Mastodon CEO steps down as the social network restructures(techcrunch.com)
techcrunch.com
Mastodon CEO steps down as the social network restructures
https://techcrunch.com/2025/11/18/mastodon-ceo-steps-down-as-the-social-network-restructures/
6 comments
Source: https://blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/11/my-next-chapter-with-m...
Of all the articles this morning about the changes, this one has the most information about the reasons and lists the people taking on various roles as part of the non-profit's structure.
> Going forward, Rochko will continue contributing to Mastodon as an advisor. Rochko has also been compensated with a one-time payment of €1 million, given that he took less than a fair market salary over the years while building Mastodon.
Took a look at Mastodon's annual reports from 2021 to 2023[1][2][3], and the CEO wasn't just getting low compensation "for a CEO", but low compensation for tech workers in general (28,800 in 2021, 36,000 in 2022, and then 60,000 EUR in 2023). I couldn't find a report for 2024, but I think it's safe to say that the one-time payment was long overdue.
I am worried however that Mastodon will soon cave to the pressures of capitalism, and begin introducing profit-focused changes that undermine its original mission.
[1]: https://joinmastodon.org/reports/Mastodon%20Annual%20Report%... [2]: https://joinmastodon.org/reports/Mastodon%20Annual%20Report%... [3]: https://joinmastodon.org/reports/Mastodon%20Annual%20Report%...
Took a look at Mastodon's annual reports from 2021 to 2023[1][2][3], and the CEO wasn't just getting low compensation "for a CEO", but low compensation for tech workers in general (28,800 in 2021, 36,000 in 2022, and then 60,000 EUR in 2023). I couldn't find a report for 2024, but I think it's safe to say that the one-time payment was long overdue.
I am worried however that Mastodon will soon cave to the pressures of capitalism, and begin introducing profit-focused changes that undermine its original mission.
[1]: https://joinmastodon.org/reports/Mastodon%20Annual%20Report%... [2]: https://joinmastodon.org/reports/Mastodon%20Annual%20Report%... [3]: https://joinmastodon.org/reports/Mastodon%20Annual%20Report%...
> I am worried however that Mastodon will soon cave to the pressures of capitalism, and begin introducing profit-focused changes that undermine its original mission.
I appreciate that concern, and allaying this is among the reasons that we're getting the AISBL in place and talking more about the mission we have. We certainly have no intention to introduce profit-focused changes, nor do we have investors to satisfy that might push us along that path.
FWIW our 2024 report is being finalised at the moment (we spent much of this year working on other structural and administrative matters around this org change), and a 2025 report will follow.
I appreciate that concern, and allaying this is among the reasons that we're getting the AISBL in place and talking more about the mission we have. We certainly have no intention to introduce profit-focused changes, nor do we have investors to satisfy that might push us along that path.
FWIW our 2024 report is being finalised at the moment (we spent much of this year working on other structural and administrative matters around this org change), and a 2025 report will follow.
I'm not horribly worried near term (not saying it won't ever happen), as there are very vocal, proud and energetic proponents on Mastodon like Elena Rossini[1] driving community engagement. Such a move by the software devs would jettison the very people evangelizing the platform.
[1] https://mastodon.social/@_elena
[1] https://mastodon.social/@_elena