Deep Dive
1. Lens Protocol Stewardship Transfer (January 2026)
Overview: Mask Network has taken over stewardship of the Lens Protocol from Aave. This isn't an acquisition but a shift in operational leadership, with Mask now responsible for the consumer-facing product roadmap and user experience for apps like Orb.
The transition, confirmed on January 21, 2026, positions Mask Network to drive the next phase of Lens as a mainstream social ecosystem. Aave and Lens founder Stani Kulechov will move into an advisory role, focusing on core DeFi, while Mask handles execution. Lens's core smart contracts and social graph remain open-source and permissionless.
What this means: This is bullish for MASK because it significantly expands Mask Network's influence and responsibility in the growing decentralized social (SocialFi) sector. It signals strong ecosystem trust and could lead to more integrated, user-friendly Web3 social applications, potentially driving greater utility and demand for the MASK token.
(Cryptonews)
2. Chainbase Hyperdata Network Support (July 2025)
Overview: In July 2025, Mask Network publicly endorsed and expressed support for Chainbase's "Hyperdata Network." This initiative aims to create a decentralized infrastructure for structuring and making on-chain data usable for AI agents and applications.
This support aligns with Mask's vision for an open data economy ("DataFi"). It indicates a focus on underlying data infrastructure that could empower more advanced decentralized applications within and beyond social networks.
What this means: This is neutral for MASK as it reflects a strategic alignment rather than a direct product update. It shows the project's commitment to foundational Web3 infrastructure, which could enable more powerful features in the long term, but the immediate impact on the core user product is indirect.
(Mask Network)
Conclusion
The latest updates show Mask Network strategically positioning itself at the intersection of decentralized social media and data infrastructure, with the Lens stewardship being a major vote of confidence. How quickly can the team translate this strategic momentum into tangible product growth and user adoption?