According to Robert Montti’s article on Search Engine Journal, “Joost de Valk Exits Federated WordPress Repository Project,” Yoast SEO founder Joost de Valk has announced he is stepping away from the FAIR (Federated and Independent Repositories) project, citing a lack of financial backing and industry commitment.
Background: Why FAIR Was Created
Montti explains that FAIR launched in mid-2025 following controversy surrounding WordPress co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s actions involving WP Engine. After WP Engine’s Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) plugin was replaced in the official repository and WP Engine customers were temporarily restricted from repository access, concerns grew about WordPress having a single point of control over plugin and theme distribution.
FAIR emerged as an effort to decentralize the ecosystem by building a federated network of independent repositories under neutral governance. De Valk was instrumental in shaping and promoting the project during its early stages.
Why De Valk Is Stepping Away
In his announcement, de Valk pointed to limited support from hosting companies and major ecosystem players. According to Montti’s reporting, discussions revealed reluctance to fund or formally back the initiative, largely due to cost, political sensitivity, and perceived risk.
De Valk suggested that while some industry players may share concerns about centralization, committing resources to FAIR would mean entering an already tense ecosystem dispute. Montti notes that this likely reflects the broader legal and commercial conflict between Mullenweg and WP Engine, which has created uncertainty for companies operating within the WordPress space.
FAIR’s Response
The FAIR project acknowledged de Valk’s departure and reiterated that funding remains a challenge. However, FAIR emphasized that its goals extend beyond WordPress, positioning itself as a broader software supply-chain security initiative.
Montti highlights that FAIR referenced the upcoming EU Cyber Resilience Act (2027) as an example of increasing regulatory pressure around software provenance, security verification, and update traceability, areas FAIR claims its architecture is designed to address.
What This Means For FAIR
While FAIR continues as an independent project, Montti suggests that losing a high-profile advocate like de Valk could slow momentum, particularly given major hosting providers’ hesitation to invest.
The project’s future may depend on whether broader industry conditions or the resolution of ongoing tensions in the WordPress ecosystem create a more favorable environment for decentralized infrastructure efforts.
For now, FAIR remains active, but its path forward is less certain without strong financial and industry backing.