# @dwr: Neynar is acquiring Farcaster protocol, app, and Clanker

Source: https://farcaster.xyz/dwr/0x72aab3a5
Kiwi News: https://news.kiwistand.com/stories/dwr-Neynar-is-acquiring-Farcaster-protocol-app-and-Clanker?index=0x697107382b47c8c82fb57659e5ce60fd1e1e91a81d5a1118f92663a46663116d43a3e19d
Submitted by tim on 2026-01-21 UTC, 8 upvotes, 6 comments

## Summary

Neynar is acquiring the Farcaster protocol, the Farcaster app, and Clanker from Merkle, with ownership transfers planned over the next few weeks. Varun & Dan (Varun and Dan) announced the change, saying Neynar will run and maintain everything going forward and will take over leadership of Farcaster. According to the announcement, some Merkle team members, Varun, and Dan will step back from day-to-day Farcaster work, and the FAQ says the Clanker team is continuing with Neynar. The authors state that after five years, Farcaster needs a new approach and leadership, and that Neynar will share its builder-focused vision soon.

## Article

Neynar is acquiring Farcaster.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll transfer ownership of the protocol contracts and code repositories, the Farcaster app, and Clanker to Neynar. They will run and maintain everything going forward.

Some members of the Merkle team, Varun, and I will step back from day-to-day work on Farcaster and move on to something new.

Rish, Manan, and the rest of the Neynar team have been building on Farcaster from the start. Neynar was one of the first Farcaster clients, and its infrastructure now powers much of the developer ecosystem. 

We think they are the right people to take over leadership of Farcaster and they’ll share their new builder-focused vision soon.

This wasn’t an easy decision. Farcaster and the people building on it mean a lot to us. We’re proud of what our team built, and what the community built alongside us. But after five years, it’s clear Farcaster needs a new approach and leadership to reach its full potential.

We’re excited to see what Farcaster becomes under Neynar, and we’re looking forward to this next chapter.

Varun & Dan

***

FAQ

What’s changing?

To start, almost nothing. The Farcaster app and Clanker operate as normal with most of the features you are using today. There should be no interruption to your day-to-day experience.
For developers, we’re transitioning the protocol contracts and code repositories over to Neynar. They will also start running the developer calls.

What is Merkle doing?

The Clanker team is continuing on with Neynar, some of the team is joining another company and some of the team is planning to do something different.

## Comments

**tim**: Most unexpected turn of events tbh

**tim**: Rish also posted: https://farcaster.xyz/rish/0xc8891ea6

**misha**: Interesting times. 

**misha**: btw there are rumors rumors rumors that Foundation and or maybe Rodeo are being acquired by ??? all I know for sure is they are going to make an announcement end of the month.

**tim**: For real? Man what is happening. Seems the Zirp money is actually running out this time, or what‘s the cause for VCs doing a 180 on all things social in crypto?

**tim**: https://x.com/macromate8/status/2014056821548523848?s=46