Network School acquired the platform from Neynar; financial terms remain undisclosed. Users accepting the new conduct rules receive an on-chain access NFT. Those declining face read-only acce
Farcaster is changing owners for the second time in 2026, with Balaji Srinivasan’s Network School acquiring the platform from Neynar. Announced on October 15, the deal brings new participation rules and a planned Network State Protocol identity.
Signal detected: @farcaster_xyz Type: project update Network School @ns by @balajis acquires Farcaster. Farcaster becomes the Network State Protocol. protocol stays open to everyone; the app gets moderated, a community for techno-optimists with a Singapore-like standard for… pic.twitter.com/HizulVc1os
— Fair (@fair_vc) October 15, 2026
Users must accept a social smart contract to retain posting access through the main app. Financial terms remain undisclosed.
Neynar co-founder Rish said the transfer covers the app, protocol repositories and related products. In his announcement, he described the platform as needing a different operating model after considering several offers.
Rish and fellow co-founder Manan will move on. Other Neynar employees will join Network School to continue development.
The transaction follows Neynar’s January purchase of Farcaster from original developer Merkle Manufactory. That earlier acquisition also included the Clanker token launchpad.
Clanker’s future remains unclear because Rish’s latest announcement did not address it. During a Thursday broadcast, GM Farcaster hosts said a separate buyer was being considered. No completed transaction was announced.
An in-app notice describes the new direction as building voluntary digital societies that could eventually form physical communities. Participation in the main app will depend on accepting its social smart contract.
Users who agree receive an access NFT recording their choice on-chain. This represents acceptance of participation rules, rather than evidence of an ownership stake in the platform.
Prohibited conduct includes threats, scams, stalking, hate speech and repeatedly provoking fights. The rules also prohibit presenting AI-generated material as one’s own work.
The app plans to introduce AI moderation and human verification to reduce bot activity. These changes place greater emphasis on identity checks and content oversight within the primary client.
Under the announced arrangement, users declining the contract retain read-only access in the main app. Their keys, funds, followers and posting history would move to another client.
Some users have reported bans tied to older posts. Those claims remain unverified in the available reporting.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoinCryptoNewz is not responsible for any losses incurred. Readers should do their own research before making financial decisions.<p>The post Farcaster Sold to Network School as Users Face New App Rules first appeared on Coin Crypto Newz.</p>
