Web3 social protocol Lens to drop V2 — here’s what’s new

Lens Protocol’s second version is on a waitlist, and developers didn’t provide a timeline for when it would hit mainnet

article-image

StockStyle/Shutterstock modified by Blockworks

share

Lens Protocol’s next iteration is on the way, coming more than a year after its creators released the first iteration of the Web3 social platform.

Lens Protocol is an open-source tech stack that allows developers to build social media apps. A number of apps have launched on Lens, including Lenster, a Twitter alternative. 

The team behind the project announced details about Lens’ second version Monday. In a Twitter thread, they called it “the next chapter in the evolution of Lens.”

For developers and app creators, V2 promises a host of new features. 

Among them are Open Actions, which will allow users to execute external smart contract actions directly on Lens apps that integrate the feature. For example, a user could mint an NFT on OpenSea via a post on Lens without having to actually visit the marketplace’s website.

Developers for the protocol say the new version enables ways to connect to other networks and platforms, including DAOs, Gitcoin and virtual worlds such as Decentraland or the Sandbox. 

In the case of the Sandbox, a user could give their virtual plot of land, a tokenized NFT, a Lens profile and open a mailbox to communicate with other pieces of land. 

“This functionality gives NFTs their own social relationships, voice and monetization opportunity. For example, CryptoKitty can own a Lens profile, follow other CryptoKitties and publish content, creating its own value chain,” according to a blog post from Lens Protocol.

Lens V2 also introduces features that have been part of the core functionality for existing social media platforms like Twitter and Instagram for years.

With V2, a profile’s follow button has been updated so all relationships are attached to a profile and not the follower. Additionally, Lens profiles can now block other profiles on-chain. If a user blocks a profile, it can’t follow, comment, mirror, quote or conduct an open action on that user’s posts.

The Lens team has opened a waitlist for V2 access. At the time of publication, the waitlist link wasn’t operational.

Lens’ developers said once V2 launches on mainnet, they will “gradually onboard new profiles.” Existing Lens profiles will be able to migrate to the upgraded version at launch.

Monday’s announcement comes months after Lens launched Momoka, its solution to speed up transactions while making them cheaper by storing them off-chain.


Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

Industry City | Brooklyn, NY

TUES - THURS, JUNE 24 - 26, 2025

Permissionless IV serves as the definitive gathering for crypto’s technical founders, developers, and builders to come together and create the future.If you’re ready to shape the future of crypto, Permissionless IV is where it happens.

Brooklyn, NY

SUN - MON, JUN. 22 - 23, 2025

Blockworks and Cracked Labs are teaming up for the third installment of the Permissionless Hackathon, happening June 22–23, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY. This is a 36-hour IRL builder sprint where developers, designers, and creatives ship real projects solving real problems across […]

recent research

Research Report Templates.png

Research

Maple Finance has successfully navigated significant market challenges through its strategic pivot to secured lending (Maple v2) and the launch of its Syrup product. Syrup has become a primary growth driver, delivering sustainable, outperforming stablecoin yields and rapidly increasing TVL. The upcoming custody-first Bitcoin staking product (istBTC) presents another significant avenue for expansion. Crucially, Maple has achieved operational profitability, a key inflection point that, combined with a fully vested token and active buyback mechanism, strengthens its investment case. While valuation metrics suggest potential undervaluation relative to peers and growth, the primary forward-looking risk identified is the long-term sustainability of its current high-take-rate collateral staking revenue model.

article-image

The Breakdown becomes your central hub for insightful, daily crypto macro analysis

article-image

What was a cool $500,000 would now be worth more than $7 million

article-image

Mersinger’s final day at the CFTC will be May 30

article-image

Squads CEO Stepan Simkin explained why the firm launched Altitude and how he’s thinking about stablecoins

article-image

Sponsored

Instead of endless wallet popups, users could connect once, set clear rules, and delegate permission to an app or to an AI agent.

article-image

Prediction markets show that people bet in anticipation of things happening far too often