Decentralized social network Farcaster is trying to reach mass adoption through Web 2.0 techniques

Only heard about this one today...

It also doesn’t allow users to sign up for Farcaster with a crypto wallet, one of the network’s co-founders Dan Romero wrote on X, to allow more users to sign up more quickly. “The best way to do that is to make onboarding as [Web 2.0] as possible — mobile-first, no wallet required, no crypto required.”

Joining the application requires a U.S.-based phone number for a free sign-up (well rules many of us out), paying $5 for an in-app purchase, or having a friend already on the app who can pay $3 for your invite.

"By the time my account was live, I was following 60 accounts, which I presume came from me selecting interests beforehand. I also had one follower."

See https://techcrunch.com/2024/02/06/farcaster-decentralized-social-network-mass-adoption/