Mask Network's Strategic Upgrade: Unveiling Firefly, Next.ID Spin-offs

Mask Network, a prominent player in the decentralized social protocol space, has announced a pivotal restructuring of its ecosystem, MaskDAO. This strategic development, revealed on February 21, 2025, involves the spin-off of three key Web3 social projects: Next.ID, Web3.Bio, and Firefly. These projects will now operate under the MaskDAO umbrella, allowing them to expand their teams, innovate their products, and explore new tokenomics models for fundraising.

Strategic Realignment and Growth

Suji Yan, the founder of Mask Network and MaskDAO, emphasized the significance of this move, stating that it aligns with the goal of achieving an open internet through the growth of a decentralized social network ecosystem. Yan likened the strategy to that of Tencent, which has successfully diversified its operations across various sectors. This restructuring aims to unlock the full potential of each project, enabling them to reach a broader user base.

Background and Vision

Founded in 2017, Mask Network has been instrumental in bridging the gap between Web2 and Web3 decentralized applications. By 2019, the Mask extension supported Twitter users with secure, decentralized social messaging and file sharing, gaining tens of thousands of users. Through its venture arm, Bonfire Union, Mask Network has raised over $100 million, further solidifying its commitment to enhancing decentralized social networks.

Project Details

Next.ID: Launched in 2021, Next.ID is a decentralized identity protocol that connects user profiles across Web2 and Web3, enhancing data ownership and mobility. It offers a comprehensive identity database for developers to create innovative decentralized applications.

Web3.Bio: Developed in 2023, Web3.Bio functions as a 'Web3 LinkedIn', integrating identity protocols such as ENS and Farcaster to deliver comprehensive user profiles. It features an interactive identity graph and Web3 activity feeds, simplifying identity navigation.

Firefly: As a comprehensive tool for Web3 natives, Firefly integrates social networks and decentralized applications into a single interface. It maintains full functionality while expanding into decentralized spaces, validated by endorsements from figures like Vitalik Buterin.

Future Prospects

As decentralized social networks continue to emerge, Mask Network remains committed to building an open internet. The team has been actively supporting Mastodon, a leading decentralized social network, and operating major instances like mstdn.jp and mastodon.cloud. The spin-off of these projects under MaskDAO is a strategic step towards enhancing their independent operations and fostering innovation in their respective domains.

For more detailed information, visit the Mask Network Medium post.