MaskDAO Acquires Orb.club, the Largest Lens Social App, to Unlock Onchain Virality for the Creator Economy

Mask Network (Mask), the pioneering decentralized social protocol, has officially acquired Orb, a popular Web3-native social app built on Lens Chain.

Orb.club, a consumer social mobile app built on Lens Protocol, is now part of MaskDAO, (MASK), the pioneering decentralized social protocol to bridge people online to onchain. Known for its viral sticker drops, collectible posts, native tipping, and creator-first features, Orb crossed 50,000 monthly active users at the start of 2025, becoming one of the largest Web3-native social apps. Joining a growing suite of decentralized social apps under MaskDAO — the acquisition of Orb is a bold step forward in Mask’s mission to build a more expressive, user-owned internet.

Founded in 2017, Mask Network began as a browser extension bridging Web2 platforms with Web3 functionality. Since then, it has grown into a decentralized social powerhouse as the “Tencent of Web3” — developing shared infrastructure, investing in onchain applications, and promoting user autonomy through its venture arm, Bonfire Union. In early 2025, Mask announced MaskDAO, a decentralized governance framework overseeing its four core projects and its non-profit arm, Mask Academy to further expand the social ecosystem.

The addition of Orb.club builds on this strategy, MaskDAO’s core projects include Next.ID (identity infrastructure), Web3.bio (Web3 profile & search), and Firefly.social (everything app for web3). Namely, Firefly has established partnerships with several renowned projects across the ecosystem, including decentralized applications such as Fileverse, Snapshot, Polymarket, Mirror, Paragraph, and eth.limo. This ecosystem synergy is further validated by Vitalik Buterin, who has publicly praised Firefly’s exceptional user experience at events such as Token2049 Singapore in 2024.

Orb now enters this ecosystem as a dynamic social layer, blending creativity, collectibility, and club-based community ownership. With the recent launch of the Lens Chain by the Avara team, Orb’s mobile app will be the place to discover what’s trending onchain.

“Orb brings soul back to social media,” said Suji Yan, Founder of Mask Network and MaskDAO. “From creator monetization to onchain clubs, Orb has reinvented the joy of being online in Web3. As an investor in Lens, Orb fits perfectly into our decentralized social vision, and we’re excited to help it scale even further.”

A Return to Playful, Personal Internet

Orb has quietly built a passionate customer base by making hanging out online fun again. From personalized sticker drops to collectible Lens posts, creators and fans engage in fast-paced, expressive interactions reminiscent of 90s internet culture — yet fully powered by onchain technology. With thousands of creators already active, Orb supports a dynamic content economy where anyone can have fun expressing themselves and earn money onchain simultaneously.

Orb struck a chord with people who care more about making friends than farming followers — and who want to earn by participating, not just trading,” said Kimmo Sirén, Co-Founder of Orb and now Head of Orb Product at MaskDAO. “Now that we’ve migrated to Lens Chain, we’re doubling down on real-time, mobile-first experiences and community-owned creator clubs. MaskDAO gives us the infrastructure and alignment to build the internet we wish we had — one where culture, connection, and upside all live onchain.”

Orb Clubs emerged as a natural extension of the app — tokenized, onchain communities equipped with treasuries, native tokens, and evolving governance. Whether for artists, collectors, or niche fandoms, Clubs enable users to form micro-networks with real ownership, incentives, and expressive freedom.

Orb’s emphasis on individuality, ownership, and play has positioned it as a pioneer in decentralized social. By joining MaskDAO, it gains access to shared infrastructure, technical support, and a broader audience within the decentralized social stack.

The Road Ahead

As MaskDAO grows into the Tencent of Web3 — supporting a family of decentralized apps across identity, content, and interaction — Orb’s arrival signals a new phase: one where creativity, ownership, and social connection converge.

About Mask Network / MaskDAO

Mask Network is a leader in the vibrant decentralized social networking ecosystem, bridging Web2 and Web3 by enabling users to access decentralized apps, messaging, and payment tools directly on existing social platforms. Its ecosystem, governed by MaskDAO, includes decentralized social apps such as Next.ID, Web3.bio, Firefly.social, and now Orb.club. Through its venture arm, Bonfire Union, Mask strategically invests in decentralized social networks, infrastructure, and creative content, with the goal of making Web3 more accessible to all people. Learn more at mask.io. Contact us via marketing[at]mask.io.

About Orb

Orb is the #1 Lens native mobile app designed for creative self-expression and community ownership. Featuring native tipping, viral sticker packs, collectible posts for creator monetization, and onchain communities known as Orb Clubs, Orb offers a refreshing take on what social media can be. Learn more at https://orb.club.