Mastodon’s founder, Eugen Rochko, is stepping down as CEO as the decentralized social network completes its transition into a non-profit organization, a major shift aimed at securing the platform’s long-term independence.
The restructure introduces a new board of directors, including Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, Karien Bezuidenhout, Esra’a Al Shafei, Felix Hlatky, and outgoing Community Director Hannah Aubry. Hlatky will take on the role of Executive Director, leading Mastodon into its next phase.
Rochko, who has led Mastodon for the past 10 years, said burnout and the platform’s rapid growth made it difficult for one person to manage. He will remain involved as an advisor and has received a €1 million compensation for years of under-market pay while building the platform.
Mastodon now employs 10 full-time staff, with key roles filled by Renaud Chaput (Technical Director), Andy Piper (Head of Communications), and Philip Schröpel (Strategy & Product Advisor).
Non-Profit Transition Underway
Mastodon has already secured U.S. 501(c)(3) status and is working on establishing a Belgian non-profit (AISBL) to replace the former German entity. The shift opens access to new European funding opportunities.
The platform has recently attracted donations from Jeff Atwood and family (€2.2M), Biz Stone, AltStore (€260K), the Global Chinese Community of Universal Digital Commons (€65K), and Craig Newmark.
Related: Mastodon Introduces Quote Posts With Built-In Safety Controls
Future Focus
Hlatky aims to boost Mastodon’s financial sustainability through hosting and moderation services while strengthening trust and safety efforts. Despite the rise of competing decentralized networks, Mastodon does not plan to pursue native interoperability with Bluesky or nostr, leaving such work to third-party tools.
A “Billionaire-Proof” Social Network
Rochko emphasized that Mastodon’s structure ensures it remains free from billionaire control, a contrast to platforms like X, Meta, and Instagram. Mastodon currently has 10 million registered users, with fewer than 1 million monthly active users after the post-Twitter-acquisition spike.
The founder believes this mission is more important than ever as the social media landscape continues to consolidate under a handful of ultra-wealthy owners.
