Blockchain Social Media Apps

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This page was created in 2018 by Strypey as a page on the original fediverse.party wiki, then moved with that project to its new home on CodeBerg. The page is now maintained here.

Social network

  • Akasha (beta, core is GPLv3) - Originally pitched as a web-based social network app using the Ethereum blockchain, with a demo at world.akasha.org. As of 2025, they seem to be focused on building out their foundation as a Web3 collaboration network, while maintaining the Akasha software as a set of foundational libraries for token-based social apps.
  • Bastyon (Apache 2.0) - new name of Pocketnet. A web-based social network app that uses the Pocketcoin blockchain (Apache 2.0). Includes video hosting and "decentralised ads". as of August 2025, existing web portals into the network were choked with white supremacist disinformation.
  • Datong (defunct) - just vapourware with a Patreon. Can't rule out the possibility it was a scam. Blockchains weren't specifically mentioned, but the homepage said "We will introduce an unique digital coin that you can exchange for services on the network itself".
  • Ecency ("MIT") - Tumblr clone created to run on the Hive blockchain, web and mobile apps available. Rebranding of eSteem, which began as a Steem-based project.
  • Memo (Apache 2.0)- According to its introduction page, "Memo is both a protocol and a front-end application. The protocol works by writing transactions to the Bitcoin Cash blockchain". They aim to create an uncensorable social network, "the blockchain is more than an uncensorable way to send money, it's an uncensorable way to store data. Memo is an experiment leveraging the blockchain's data storing capabilities".
  • Mycelia - a social network for musicians founded by Imogen Heap, planning a Creative Passport app using a blockchain and smart contracts.
  • Numaverse (defunct) - a web-based social network app using the Ethereum blockchain. Was planning to bridge with AP networks. May be abandoned due to competition from Peepeth and Minds.
  • Pocketnet (renamed) - Began as a volunteer-developed social network using its own blockchain. Renamed Bastyon in 2021, URL redirects to the Bastyon site.
  • Steemit - a web-based social network app (Slashdot/Reddit-a-like with up/down voting) that uses the Steem blockchain.
  • Twister ("MIT", defunct?) - a micro-blogging app using the BitCoin protocol and a DHT based on libTorrent.
  • WeKu (defunct) - a blogging and social media app based on their own fork of the Steem blockchain (?).

Media-hosting

  • BitSong - music-hosting on its own blockchain
  • DLive - livestreaming on the Steem blockchain
  • DTube - video hosting on the Steem blockchain
  • Emanate (defunct) - music-hosting on its own blockchain
  • Lbry - uncensorable storage and retrieval system for digital media, using its own blockchain.
  • Musicoin - music streaming on its own blockchain.
  • PiePie (defunct) - previously known as Lit. Social media sharing on the Mithril blockchain
  • SocialX - photo and video sharing on their own blockchain(?). The company is based in Singapore and got startup funding in an ICO using Ethereum. In beta as of early 2018.
  • Steepshot (defunct) - photo-sharing using the Steem blockchain
  • Ujo (defunct?) - BandCamp clone running payments on Ethereum. Partnered with Imogen Heap, musician and co-founder of Mycelia. As of July 2024, URL now redirecting to Consensys Mesh.
  • Viberate - Last.FM clone that started out running its own VIB blockchain. Seems to have pivoted away from blockchain to "music analytics".
  • Voize (defunct) - a SoundCloud clone hosted on the Ethereum blockchain

Multi-App Protocols

  • Lens - promotes itself as a protocol for creating social apps on the Polygon blockchain4, already has apps in the wild
  • Orbis - promotes itself as a multi-blockchain protocol for creating social apps, already has apps in the wild

Original Intro Text

"All these apps are all distributed in some way, because they use a blockchain, but not federated. I think it's useful to have this list to point to, in case people think we just don't know about these apps, and because the non-scammy, free code ones might be worth approaching about implementing AP or Zot to bridge to the fediverse.

Because all these blockchain apps are in competition with each other, unlike the fediverse apps who cooperate on common protocols, it's hard to see how any of them will gain the network effect to compete with the legacy datafarms. Although some, like Resonate and Musicoin, are platform cooperatives, it seems like at least some of the others are just datafarm larvae like Everipedia, aiming to enslave enough users to get Vulture Capitalist funding, and exit by acquisition or IPO."

2025 note:

Most of these projects foundered within a few years. To be fair, a lot of federated projects have died in that time too, even though the fediverse as a whole has grown massively. The survival rate for decentralised social network startups in general is low, whether they're hobby projects or funded businesses. But it's notable that most decentralised social app development is now focused on ActivityPub (the fediverse), ATProto ([BlueSky's vanity protocol](https://thenewstack.io/bluesky-vs-nostr-which-should-developers-care-about-more/)), and in the case of those still committed to crypto, Nostr.

See Also

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