Suji Yan

{
  "subject_name": "Suji Yan",
  "type": "person",
  "overall_score": 45,
  "research_sources": "Claude, GPT, Grok, Gemini",
  "research_date": "2026-02-21",
  "source_registry": [
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-001",
      "url": "https://iq.wiki/wiki/suji-yan",
      "title": "Suji Yan – People in Crypto",
      "publisher": "IQ.wiki",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-23"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-002",
      "url": "https://github.com/tedko",
      "title": "Tedko (Suji Yan) GitHub Profile",
      "publisher": "GitHub",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-23"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-003",
      "url": "https://news.bitcoin.com/mask-network-founder-suji-yan-loses-4m-in-crypto-to-hackers-on-birthday/",
      "title": "Mask Network Founder Loses $4M in Crypto Hack",
      "publisher": "Bitcoin.com",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-23"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-004",
      "url": "https://www.law360.com/articles/2358222/crypto-co-ceo-sued-over-alleged-sex-assault-retaliation",
      "title": "Crypto Co. CEO Sued Over Alleged Sex Assault, Retaliation",
      "publisher": "Law360",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-23"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-005",
      "url": "https://masknetwork.medium.com/mask-network-to-steward-next-chapter-of-lens-shaping-decentralized-social-from-infrastructure-to-97a04fc3daca",
      "title": "Mask Network to Steward the Next Chapter of Lens",
      "publisher": "Mask Network (Medium)",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-23"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-006",
      "url": "https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/06/bonfire-union-mask-network-maiden-fund/",
      "title": "With $42M fund, Bonfire Union wants to invest in Web3",
      "publisher": "TechCrunch",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-23"
    },
    {
      "source_id": "SRC-007",
      "url": "https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/mask-network/",
      "title": "Mask Network Price and Market Data",
      "publisher": "CoinMarketCap",
      "accessed_date": "2026-02-23"
    }
  ],
  "third_party_reputation_scores": [],
  "identity": {
    "verified_name": "Suji Yan",
    "handles": [
      "@suji_yan",
      "tedko",
      "suji (Farcaster)",
      "sujiyan.eth",
      "sujiyan.lens"
    ],
    "email_addresses": [],
    "locations": [
      "Tokyo, Japan",
      "Shanghai, China",
      "United States (education and corporate presence references)"
    ],
    "verification_status": "high",
    "source_ids": [
      "SRC-001",
      "SRC-002"
    ]
  },
  "credentials_and_claims": [
    {
      "claim": "Founder and CEO of Mask Network (Dimension / Dimension Mechanics Inc.)",
      "source": "Public bios, GitHub, company publications",
      "verified": true,
      "verification_evidence": "Consistent attribution across IQ.wiki, GitHub profile, Mask Network publications, and conference bios.",
      "verification_status": "verified",
      "confidence": "high",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Grok",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "notes": "No contradictory sources identified for founder role.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001",
        "SRC-002"
      ]
    },
    {
      "claim": "Dropped out of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Computer Engineering)",
      "source": "Conference bios and interviews",
      "verified": true,
      "verification_evidence": "Repeated self-report and third-party speaker bios stating dropout at age ~20.",
      "verification_status": "verified",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT"
      ],
      "notes": "No primary academic records retrieved.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001"
      ]
    },
    {
      "claim": "Former independent journalist for Caixin Media and Qdaily",
      "source": "Conference bios",
      "verified": false,
      "verification_evidence": "No primary bylines retrieved during research.",
      "verification_status": "unverified",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude"
      ],
      "notes": "Claim appears only in secondary bios.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001"
      ]
    },
    {
      "claim": "Co-author of the Anti-996 License",
      "source": "GitHub repositories and conference bios",
      "verified": true,
      "verification_evidence": "GitHub repository history and public association with Anti-996 movement alongside Katt Gu.",
      "verification_status": "verified",
      "confidence": "high",
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT"
      ],
      "notes": "Role is consistently described as co-initiator/co-author.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-002"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "project_history": [
    {
      "name": "Mask Network (formerly Maskbook)",
      "period": "2017–present",
      "description": "Browser extension and Web3 social infrastructure integrating encrypted messaging, wallets, NFTs, and dApps into Web2 social platforms.",
      "funding": "Approximately $57M total across private and public rounds; MASK token launched 2021.",
      "outcome": "Ongoing; ecosystem expanded to multiple consumer and infrastructure products.",
      "tvl_or_metrics": "MASK ATH ~$41.45 (Feb 2021); ATL ~$0.65 (Oct 2025); ~98% drawdown from ATH.",
      "team_members": [
        "Suji Yan",
        "DimensionDev contributors"
      ],
      "controversies": [
        "Founder personal wallet hack in February 2025 causing market panic.",
        "Centralization criticism regarding consolidation of decentralized social assets."
      ],
      "sources": [
        "IQ.wiki",
        "CoinMarketCap",
        "Bitcoin.com"
      ],
      "confidence": "high",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001",
        "SRC-003",
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Bonfire Union",
      "period": "2022–present",
      "description": "Venture capital arm associated with Mask Network focusing on Web3 and decentralized social projects.",
      "funding": "$42M first close reported in 2022.",
      "outcome": "Active VC operations.",
      "tvl_or_metrics": "Reported $100M AUM (self-reported).",
      "team_members": [
        "Suji Yan"
      ],
      "controversies": [],
      "sources": [
        "TechCrunch"
      ],
      "confidence": "medium",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-006"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "recent_experiments": [
    {
      "name": "Lens Protocol Stewardship",
      "first_observed_date": "2026-01",
      "status": "launched",
      "evidence_type": "press",
      "confidence": "high",
      "notes": "Mask Network announced stewardship (not acquisition) of Lens Protocol to focus on consumer-facing decentralized social applications.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "timeline": [
    {
      "date": "2017",
      "title": "Founding of Mask Network",
      "description": "Suji Yan leaves university and begins building Maskbook, later rebranded as Mask Network.",
      "sources": [
        "IQ.wiki"
      ],
      "tone": "neutral",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Founding year consistent across sources.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2021-02",
      "title": "MASK Token Launch",
      "description": "MASK token launched via public sale, later reaching an all-time high near $41.",
      "sources": [
        "CoinMarketCap"
      ],
      "tone": "neutral",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Subsequent long-term price decline noted.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2025-02-27",
      "title": "Personal Wallet Hack",
      "description": "Approximately $4M in crypto assets stolen from Suji Yan’s personal wallet on his birthday.",
      "sources": [
        "Bitcoin.com"
      ],
      "tone": "critical",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Yan stated funds were personal, not project treasury.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2025-06",
      "title": "Sexual Assault and Retaliation Lawsuit Filed",
      "description": "Former employee alleges sexual assault, retaliation, and financial compliance issues; case ongoing.",
      "sources": [
        "Law360"
      ],
      "tone": "critical",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Allegations unresolved at time of research.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "date": "2026-01",
      "title": "Lens Protocol Stewardship Announcement",
      "description": "Mask Network announces stewardship of Lens Protocol.",
      "sources": [
        "Mask Network Medium"
      ],
      "tone": "positive",
      "verified": true,
      "notes": "Described as strategic expansion.",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "red_flags": [
    {
      "title": "Unresolved sexual assault and retaliation allegations",
      "description": "Active lawsuit alleges sexual assault, retaliatory termination, and suppression of financial compliance concerns.",
      "severity": "critical",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "supporting_evidence": [
        "Federal lawsuit filing reported by Law360."
      ],
      "counter_evidence": [
        "Defendants deny allegations; case unresolved."
      ],
      "found_by": [
        "GPT",
        "Grok"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "Law360"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Major personal operational security failure",
      "description": "Loss of ~$4M in personal crypto assets due to wallet compromise, triggering market panic.",
      "severity": "high",
      "confidence": "high",
      "supporting_evidence": [
        "Multiple press reports detailing the hack."
      ],
      "counter_evidence": [
        "Funds confirmed as personal, not project treasury."
      ],
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "GPT",
        "Gemini"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "Bitcoin.com"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Extreme token drawdown impacting holders",
      "description": "MASK token experienced approximately 98% drawdown from all-time high, causing substantial losses to holders.",
      "severity": "high",
      "confidence": "high",
      "supporting_evidence": [
        "Historical price data from CoinMarketCap."
      ],
      "counter_evidence": [
        "Broader crypto market downturn contributed."
      ],
      "found_by": [
        "Claude",
        "Grok"
      ],
      "sources": [
        "CoinMarketCap"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "behavioral_patterns": [
    {
      "title": "Long-term ecosystem building with high personal exposure",
      "description": "Sustained multi-year commitment to decentralized social infrastructure, combined with frequent public positioning and personal branding.",
      "examples": [
        "Mask Network founding",
        "Lens stewardship",
        "Public disclosure of wallet hack"
      ],
      "frequency": "continuous since 2017",
      "confidence": "high",
      "sources": [
        "IQ.wiki",
        "Mask Network Medium"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-001",
        "SRC-005"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "contradictions_and_disputes": [
    {
      "claim_1": "MASK token decline reflects founder or project misconduct",
      "claim_2": "MASK token decline primarily due to market-wide downturn and speculative excess",
      "source_1": "Market critics and community commentary",
      "source_2": "Founder statements and broader market analysis",
      "resolution": "Unknown; both macro market forces and project-specific factors likely contributed",
      "confidence": "medium",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "coverage_log": [
    {
      "surface": "X / Twitter",
      "queries": [
        "suji_yan Mask Network",
        "Suji Yan wallet hack"
      ],
      "date_window": "prior_history",
      "result": "found",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003"
      ]
    },
    {
      "surface": "Ethos Network",
      "queries": [
        "suji_yan ethos"
      ],
      "date_window": "prior_history",
      "result": "no_material_results",
      "source_ids": []
    }
  ],
  "evidence_gaps": [
    {
      "question": "Final legal outcome of sexual assault and retaliation lawsuit",
      "why_uncertain": "Case ongoing at time of research",
      "searched": "Legal news databases",
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-004"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "key_insights": [
    {
      "title": "High reputational volatility",
      "description": "Combination of unresolved legal allegations, severe token drawdown, and personal security failures creates sustained reputational risk despite long-term building track record.",
      "importance": "critical",
      "evidence": [
        "Lawsuit filing",
        "Token price history",
        "Wallet hack reports"
      ],
      "source_ids": [
        "SRC-003",
        "SRC-004",
        "SRC-007"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "risk_assessment": {
    "overall_score": 45,
    "score_reasoning": "Median of LLM-reported scores (38 and 52). Strong evidence of long-term project execution offsets but does not neutralize severe reputational and financial risks arising from unresolved legal allegations, extreme investor losses, and operational security failures.",
    "criminal_risk": "medium",
    "financial_risk": "high",
    "reputational_risk": "high",
    "verification_risk": "medium",
    "source_ids": [
      "SRC-003",
      "SRC-004",
      "SRC-007"
    ]
  },
  "confidence_notes": {
    "data_completeness": "high for public events; medium for legal and financial details",
    "source_verification": "generally reliable mainstream crypto and legal media",
    "identity_confidence": "high",
    "timeline_confidence": "high",
    "conflicting_findings": "Degree to which token losses should be attributed to founder versus market conditions",
    "limitations": "No access to sealed court documents, internal financial records, or private communications"
  }
}