Dan Romero

{
  "subject_name": "Dan Romero",
  "type": "person",
  "overall_score": 30,
  "research_sources": "Claude, GPT, Grok, Gemini",
  "research_date": "2026-02-21",
  "source_registry": [
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-001",
      "url": "https://x.com/dwr",
      "title": "Dan Romero (@dwr) Profile on X",
      "publisher": "X Corp",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-002",
      "url": "https://english.duke.edu/alumni/daniel-romero",
      "title": "Daniel Romero | English Department – Duke University",
      "publisher": "Duke University",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-003",
      "url": "https://www.crunchbase.com/person/dan-romero",
      "title": "Dan Romero – Crunchbase Person Profile",
      "publisher": "Crunchbase",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-004",
      "url": "https://manual.compoundplanning.com/chapters/interview-with-dan-romero-employee-20-at-coinbase",
      "title": "Interview with Dan Romero, Employee #20 at Coinbase",
      "publisher": "Compound Manual",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-005",
      "url": "https://www.coindesk.com/business/2026/02/09/farcaster-founders-join-stablecoin-startup-tempo-after-neynar-acquires-social-protocol",
      "title": "Farcaster Founders Join Stablecoin Startup Tempo After Neynar Acquires Social Protocol",
      "publisher": "CoinDesk",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-006",
      "url": "https://protos.com/farcaster-acquisition-sparks-claims-of-150m-theft/",
      "title": "Farcaster acquisition sparks claims of '$150M theft'",
      "publisher": "Protos",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-007",
      "url": "https://fortune.com/crypto/2026/01/26/farcaster-dan-romero-crypto-social-media-finance-blockchain/",
      "title": "A crypto social media network's failure raises an awkward question",
      "publisher": "Fortune",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-008",
      "url": "https://forklog.com/en/farcaster-founders-to-return-180-million-to-investors-following-protocol-sale/",
      "title": "Farcaster Founders to Return $180 Million to Investors",
      "publisher": "ForkLog",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-009",
      "url": "https://docs.neynar.com/docs/fetching-farcaster-user-based-on-ethereum-address",
      "title": "Neynar API Documentation",
      "publisher": "Neynar",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-21"
    }
  ],
  "third_party_reputation_scores": [
    {
      "platform": "ethos.network",
      "score": null,
      "score_type": "credibility",
      "reviews_positive": null,
      "reviews_negative": null,
      "reviews_neutral": null,
      "notable_review_texts": [],
      "vouch_count": null,
      "vouch_eth_staked": null,
      "slash_count": null,
      "url": "https://app.ethos.network/profile/x/dwr",
      "source_id": "SRC-000"
    }
  ],
  "identity": {
    "verified_name": "Daniel W. Romero",
    "handles": [
      "@dwr (X/Twitter)",
      "dwr.eth (Farcaster/Warpcast)",
      "danromero (GitHub)",
      "danromero.org (personal website)"
    ],
    "email_addresses": [],
    "locations": [
      "United States"
    ],
    "verification_status": "high",
    "source_ids": [
      "SRC-001",
      "SRC-002",
      "SRC-003",
      "SRC-009"
    ]
  },
  "credentials_and_claims": [
    {
      "claim": "Holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Duke University, class of 2010.",
      "source": "Duke University English Department alumni records",
      "verified": true,
      "verification_evidence": "Official Duke University alumni page lists Daniel Romero, English, Class of 2010.",
      "verification_status": "verified",
      "confidence": "high",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "notes": "One low-quality secondary source incorrectly claimed Economics; authoritative source confirms English.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-002"
      ]
    },
    {
      "claim": "Joined Coinbase in 2014 as employee #20 and later served as Vice President of Operations and International.",
      "source": "Coinbase blog, interviews, press coverage",
      "verified": true,
      "verification_evidence": "Multiple interviews and Coinbase announcements confirm early employee number and leadership roles.",
      "verification_status": "verified",
      "confidence": "high",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "notes": "Left Coinbase in 2019 after approximately five years.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003",
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "claim": "Co-founded Farcaster (Merkle Manufactory) with Varun Srinivasan.",
      "source": "Press coverage and self-published announcements",
      "verified": true,
      "verification_evidence": "Consistent identification across CoinDesk, Protos, and Farcaster documentation.",
      "verification_status": "verified",
      "confidence": "high",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "notes": "Romero served as CEO during Farcaster’s primary operating period.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005",
        "SRC-006"
      ]
    },
    {
      "claim": "Returned the full $180 million raised by Farcaster to venture investors following the Neynar acquisition.",
      "source": "Press reports and Romero public statements",
      "verified": "partially",
      "verification_evidence": "Multiple outlets report the announced intent; no independent audit confirming execution was located.",
      "verification_status": "unverified",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "notes": "Widely praised by investors and commentators as rare capital stewardship in crypto.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005",
        "SRC-008"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "project_history": [
    {
      "name": "Coinbase",
      "period": "2014–2019",
      "description": "Cryptocurrency exchange; Romero was an early employee and executive.",
      "funding": "Not applicable",
      "outcome": "Company scaled rapidly and later went public; Romero departed prior to IPO.",
      "tvl_or_metrics": "Coinbase grew from ~20 employees to hundreds during his tenure.",
      "team_members": [],
      "controversies": [],
      "sources": [
        "Coinbase blog",
        "Compound interview"
      ],
      "confidence": "high",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003",
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Farcaster / Merkle Manufactory",
      "period": "2020–2026",
      "description": "Decentralized social networking protocol and associated clients.",
      "funding": "$180M total raised ($30M in 2022, $150M in 2024)",
      "outcome": "Protocol sold to Neynar; founders stepped back; investors promised full capital return.",
      "tvl_or_metrics": "Reported ~250k MAU and >100k funded wallets in late 2025; estimated ~$2.8M total revenue over five years.",
      "team_members": [
        "Varun Srinivasan"
      ],
      "controversies": [
        "Allegations of '$150M theft' by critics",
        "Centralized moderation on a platform marketed as decentralized",
        "Valuation-revenue disparity"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "CoinDesk",
        "Protos",
        "Fortune"
      ],
      "confidence": "high",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005",
        "SRC-006",
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Tempo",
      "period": "2026–present",
      "description": "Stablecoin-focused payments and blockchain startup backed by Stripe and Paradigm.",
      "funding": "Reported $500M Series A at ~$5B valuation (per secondary reporting)",
      "outcome": "Ongoing; Romero joined after Farcaster transition.",
      "tvl_or_metrics": "Early stage; no public usage metrics.",
      "team_members": [
        "Varun Srinivasan"
      ],
      "controversies": [],
      "sources": [
        "CoinDesk"
      ],
      "confidence": "medium",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "timeline": [
    {
      "date": "2010",
      "title": "Graduated from Duke University",
      "description": "Completed BA in English.",
      "sources": [
        "Duke University"
      ],
      "tone": "neutral",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-002"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2014",
      "title": "Joined Coinbase",
      "description": "Joined as employee #20; worked on business development and operations.",
      "sources": [
        "Coinbase",
        "Interviews"
      ],
      "tone": "positive",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003",
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2019",
      "title": "Departed Coinbase",
      "description": "Left after approximately five years.",
      "sources": [
        "Medium post",
        "Press"
      ],
      "tone": "neutral",
      "verified": "partially",
      "notes": "Departure timing self-announced but corroborated by press.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2020",
      "title": "Co-founded Farcaster",
      "description": "Founded Merkle Manufactory and began building Farcaster protocol.",
      "sources": [
        "Press",
        "Self-published"
      ],
      "tone": "positive",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-01",
      "title": "Neynar acquisition and investor return announcement",
      "description": "Farcaster protocol transferred to Neynar; $180M investor return announced.",
      "sources": [
        "CoinDesk",
        "Protos"
      ],
      "tone": "critical",
      "verified": "partially",
      "notes": "Announcement confirmed; execution not independently audited.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005",
        "SRC-006"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-02",
      "title": "Joined Tempo",
      "description": "Joined stablecoin startup Tempo with former Farcaster team members.",
      "sources": [
        "CoinDesk"
      ],
      "tone": "neutral",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "red_flags": [
    {
      "title": "Extreme valuation-to-revenue mismatch at Farcaster",
      "description": "Farcaster reached a $1B valuation while generating an estimated ~$2.8M in revenue over five years.",
      "severity": "high",
      "confidence": "high",
      "supporting_evidence": [
        "Fortune analysis describing limited meaningful audience and revenue",
        "Analyst estimates cited in multiple outlets"
      ],
      "counter_evidence": [
        "Investors made whole via announced capital return"
      ],
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "Fortune",
        "Protos"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-006",
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Public allegations of fraud or theft",
      "description": "Some critics accused Romero of orchestrating a '$150M theft' following the Neynar acquisition.",
      "severity": "medium",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "supporting_evidence": [
        "Protos reporting on allegations by industry figures"
      ],
      "counter_evidence": [
        "Strong pushback from investors and journalists citing full capital return"
      ],
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "Grok"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "Protos"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-006"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "behavioral_patterns": [
    {
      "title": "Public transparency during controversy",
      "description": "Romero addressed rumors and allegations directly via public posts and interviews.",
      "examples": [
        "Public statements denying shutdown rumors",
        "Explanation of capital return rationale"
      ],
      "frequency": "Repeated during January–February 2026",
      "confidence": "high",
      "sources": [
        "CoinDesk"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "contradictions_and_disputes": [
    {
      "claim_1": "Farcaster investors suffered no financial harm.",
      "claim_2": "Farcaster outcome constituted a '$150M theft.'",
      "source_1": "CoinDesk, ForkLog",
      "source_2": "Protos",
      "resolution": "Unresolved; capital return announced but execution not independently audited.",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005",
        "SRC-006",
        "SRC-008"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "evidence_gaps": [
    {
      "question": "Was the full $180M investor return executed and settled?",
      "why_uncertain": "No independent audit or transaction-level confirmation located.",
      "searched": "Press reports, public statements, blockchain disclosures",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005",
        "SRC-008"
      ]
    },
    {
      "question": "Ethos Network credibility metrics",
      "why_uncertain": "Profile inaccessible due to SPA and authentication restrictions.",
      "searched": "Ethos web app and API",
      "source_ids": []
    }
  ],
  "key_insights": [
    {
      "title": "Rare investor capital return in crypto",
      "description": "Announced full return of venture capital is highly unusual and materially differentiates Romero from typical failed crypto founders.",
      "importance": "critical",
      "evidence": [
        "Multiple investors publicly praised the decision"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005",
        "SRC-008"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Persistent reputational risk despite no proven criminality",
      "description": "Even with no substantiated fraud findings, public allegations and harsh media characterizations continue to shape perception.",
      "importance": "high",
      "evidence": [
        "Fortune and Protos coverage"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-006",
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "risk_assessment": {
    "overall_score": 30,
    "score_reasoning": "Strong identity and credential verification and unusual investor-friendly behavior reduce risk, but severe valuation inefficiency, public fraud allegations, and lack of audited confirmation of capital return sustain moderate reputational and financial risk.",
    "criminal_risk": "none found",
    "financial_risk": "medium",
    "reputational_risk": "high",
    "verification_risk": "moderate due to unaudited claims",
    "source_ids": [
      "SRC-005",
      "SRC-006",
      "SRC-007"
    ]
  },
  "confidence_notes": {
    "data_completeness": "Approximately 80% of major claims verified",
    "source_verification": "High for identity and career; medium for financial outcomes",
    "identity_confidence": "high",
    "timeline_confidence": "high",
    "conflicting_findings": "Severity and validity of fraud allegations; execution of investor repayment",
    "limitations": "No access to private transaction records, Ethos reputation data, or audited financial statements"
  }
}