Mastodon CEO Steps Back, Hands Control to Nonprofit as Platform Matures

After nearly a decade at the helm, Mastodon’s founder and CEO Eugen Rochko is stepping back from daily leadership and transferring control of the project’s assets to a newly formed nonprofit in Europe. The move coincides with the launch of Mastodon 4.5 and marks a strategic shift toward institutional governance and product-focused leadership.

What We Know

Eugen Rochko announced on November 11, 2025 that he is stepping down as CEO of Mastodon and transferring ownership of the trademark and other assets to a new European nonprofit. He will remain involved in an advisory, product-focused capacity. Over his nearly ten-year tenure, Rochko emphasized the importance of avoiding founder-centric control to protect community values and platform health. He cited stress, lack of resources, and personal impact from user scrutiny as reasons for stepping down. This change aligns with earlier restructuring efforts including the move to push ownership out of single-person control and toward nonprofit stewardship.

The platform also rolled out Mastodon 4.5, introducing quote posts with granular consent controls, expanded moderation tools, and native emoji support. The update reiterates the nonprofit transition, underscoring Mastodon’s commitment to being decentralized, ad-free, and not owned by any single individual.

What It Means

This leadership change represents a formal institutionalization of Mastodon’s founding ethos: remain community-led, transparent, and resilient to centralized power. Rochko’s shift to a product strategy focus may improve feature development while insulating leadership from public scrutiny. The launch of Mastodon 4.5 under this new structure underscores continuity in innovation and governance.

The Backstory

In early 2025, Mastodon began transferring ownership from Rochko to a European nonprofit, transitioning Mastodon GmbH under nonprofit control and continuing use of its U.S. 501(c)(3) for fundraising. Throughout the year, the team grew, board roles shifted, and the project embraced recognition as a Digital Public Good, reinforcing its open-source, mission-driven identity.

What’s Next

Mastodon is already preparing version 4.6, targeting the first quarter of 2026, which will introduce onboarding improvements, institutional features like “Packs,” and content enhancements. Meanwhile, the newly formed European nonprofit will formalize governance and stewardship, and Mastodon continues pursuing financial sustainability through donations and commercial services.