About
ZK
Ended--
Last price (USDT)
890.97K
24h total (USDT)
3.05M
Total vol (USDT)
2024-05-22 09:00:00 ~ 2024-06-17 07:30:00
Trading time (UTC+0)
2024-06-17 12:00:00
Delivery time (UTC+0)
Total supply13.96B
Resources
Introduction
ZKsync is an ever expanding verifiable blockchain network, secured by math.
Matter Labs Introduces ZKsync Managed Services for Enterprise Blockchain Deployments
Quick Breakdown Matter Labs has launched ZKsync Managed Services, extending its operational expertise from the ZKsync ecosystem into a managed infrastructure. The service is designed to address the operational complexity of running production-grade blockchain infrastructure. ZKsync Managed Services allows organizations to retain full sovereignty over their custom ZK Stack chains while outsourcing reliability, performance, security, and ongoing infrastructure management to Matter Labs. Matter Labs announced the launch of ZKsync Managed Services, a managed infrastructure offering aimed at enterprises deploying custom zero-knowledge blockchains. The product extends Matter Labs’ experience operating the ZKsync ecosystem into a service that handles the operational burden of running ZK-based networks for external teams. Enterprises and financial institutions are increasingly adopting blockchain technology to automate workflows, coordinate value, and develop products that operate across organizational boundaries. Yet for many organizations, running production-grade blockchain infrastructure remains a major barrier, requiring specialized operational expertise that most teams do not have in-house. Announcing ZKsync Managed Services from Matter Labs. Dedicated, production‑grade ZK Stack chains, plus RPC, block explorer, indexers, and event delivery. Operated 24/7 by the team behind the protocol. Blog: Website: pic.twitter.com/moB55z625t — ZKsync (@zksync) December 15, 2025 Operational complexity slows enterprise blockchain adoption Deploying a blockchain network at production scale involves far more than writing smart contracts. Organizations must operate sequencing and proving infrastructure, manage security and monitoring, ensure regulatory compliance, and integrate blockchain systems with existing enterprise platforms. For many teams, these requirements have led to delayed launches, rising costs, and increased operational risk. Industry participants note that enterprises often find themselves responsible for infrastructure tasks outside their core competencies, diverting resources away from product development and business outcomes. ZKsync managed services target enterprise-grade deployments According to Matter Labs, ZKsync Managed Services is designed for teams that want the benefits of dedicated ZK Stack chains without managing day-to-day operations. The offering includes ZK-chains-as-a-service, high-performance RPC infrastructure, event delivery and webhooks, and supporting tooling, all operated by the Matter Labs team. Under the model, customers retain sovereignty and control over their networks, while Matter Labs manages security, reliability, performance, and ongoing maintenance. The company said the service is intended to support production-grade deployments that meet enterprise standards for uptime, resilience, and operational consistency. In another development, zkSync Lite, the legacy ZKsync network that processed more than one billion transactions, will be phased out. The move follows a sustained decline in activity since the launch of zkSync Era in March 2023, which now serves as the primary ZKsync platform.
Devconnect 2025: Privacy, Stablecoins, and the Next Wave of Infrastructure
Buenos Aires has a distinct frequency. It is a city where European grandeur collides with Latin American intensity, a place where economic theory is not an abstract concept discussed in ivory towers, but a visceral, daily struggle for preservation. It is, therefore, no accident that this metropolis was chosen to host Devconnect 2025. The backdrop of Argentina, a country synonymous with both monetary volatility and grassroots crypto adoption, provided the perfect stage for an industry that is finally growing up. If previous years in the crypto cycle were defined by noise, spectacle, and the blinding lights of speculative mania, reminiscent of a Las Vegas casino floor, Buenos Aires offered a stark, sobering contrast. The air didn’t smell of “easy money” and vaporware; it smelled of strong coffee and serious engineering. Here, the narrative shifted. We are no longer building toys for the bored and wealthy; we are building infrastructure for a world that is cracking at the seams. To navigate this profound shift, we enlisted the insights of key industry architects: Arthur Firstov (Mercuryo CBO), who focused on the privacy mandate; Vivien Lin (BingX CPO), who detailed the integration of AI into trading ecosystems; and Ivan Machena (8lends CCO), who provided a vital assessment of the layer-2 adoption landscape. Through extensive back-channel conversations with these leaders, a clear picture emerges. We are entering a new epoch. This is the story of how privacy became a mandate, how Artificial Intelligence is demanding a seat at the financial table, and how global diversity finally shattered the myth of the “archetypal user.” The Privacy Mandate, From Feature to Foundation The most potent message from Buenos Aires was not broadcast via fireworks or celebrity endorsements. It was whispered in the dense fabric of technical workshops and crowded hacker houses. The message is simple: transparency is a feature, but total exposure is a flaw. In Bangkok, at previous gatherings, privacy was merely a “track”, a side room visited by cypherpunks and idealists. In Buenos Aires, it was the main event. The industry has collectively realized that without privacy, there is no mass adoption, only mass surveillance. Arthur Firstov, the Chief Business Officer of Mercuryo, captured this paradigm shift perfectly. Reflecting on the dominant research areas of the event, Firstov noted a distinct change in temperature. “Privacy was the defining theme,” Firstov asserts, before continuing: “Compared to Bangkok, where privacy was just one important track, Buenos Aires elevated it to the main stage.” His observation aligns with a sentiment that permeated every venue of the conference. A phrase began circulating around the co-working spaces and lecture halls, becoming the unofficial motto of Devconnect 2025: “If your wallet is not privacy-preserving by design, it is legacy.” This is not a technological fad, it is a response to an increasingly transparent world where financial data is weaponized. Firstov highlights that the tone was set from the top, with Vitalik Buterin offering a “full walkthrough of his personal privacy stack, from OS and mobile devices to private RPC.” But the crucial evolution lies in how this technology is now being packaged. It is no longer about command-line interfaces for the elite; it is about invisibility. Firstov explains: “Builders focused on stealth addresses, smart AA [Account Abstraction] patterns, selective disclosures, and ‘creating better defaults so users do not even notice how much complexity is being handled beneath the surface.” This “invisibility” is the holy grail. The user does not want to understand zero-knowledge proofs; they simply want to know their bank balance isn’t public property. Alongside this push for privacy, Firstov identified a pragmatic evolution in DeFi: the rise of “preconfirmations for instant-feeling stablecoin payments” and new yield surfaces that offer “simple, ‘money-market style’ experiences without going full degen.” The industry is moving away from 10,000% APY Ponzi schemes toward boring, reliable, private finance. The “Black Box” Controversy, Who Do We Trust? However, no revolution is without its internal schisms. While the consensus on the need for privacy was absolute, the method of achieving it sparked the most heated technical debates of the week. The eye of the storm was the reliance on Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs), hardware-based secure enclaves. Is the future of privacy found in cryptographic math or in silicon manufacturing? Firstov describes this division as the “most unexpected or controversial technical debate” of the event. On one side stood the pragmatists. He notes: “One camp argued that TEEs are ‘practically necessary for high-throughput, low-latency, and private computation’, particularly for private settlement, derivatives strategies, and agent-based execution.” The argument is compelling: if we want Wall Street speeds on the blockchain, math alone might be too slow. We need hardware acceleration. But the opposition was loud, principled, and deeply skeptical. Firstov relays their warning: “If the trust model becomes ‘trust this black-box server in a data center,’ then crypto is not improving much over traditional finance.” If we simply replace a bank’s server with Intel’s SGX enclave, have we actually decentralized anything? This led to an unresolved meta-question that will likely define research priorities for the rest of the decade: “How much of the world’s stablecoin and payment rails are we comfortable running on opaque hardware… and what does ‘trust-minimized enough’ actually mean in that context?” The Rise of the Machines: AI as the New Financial Architect While cryptographers sparred over hardware trust, another titan was quietly integrating itself into the crypto stack: Artificial Intelligence. Devconnect 2025 wasn’t just about the ledger; it was about the inevitable marriage of the decentralized database and the autonomous brain. Vivien Lin, Chief Product Officer and Head of BingX Labs, brought a perspective from the front lines of centralized exchanges (CEXs), which are rapidly morphing into something far more complex. For her, the primary theme was undeniable. Lin says: “The primary theme for me was the integration of AI into exchange infrastructure and the realization that exchanges are evolving into full financial ecosystems, not just trading applications.” She paints a picture of a future where AI acts as the connective tissue of finance. “Builders were focused on how AI can unify trading, custody, payments, risk management, and user intelligence into a single ‘super app’ experience.” However, much like the TEE debate in the privacy sector, the integration of AI brings its own security paradox. How do you trust an AI with your life savings? Lin notes a strong push toward “secure, verifiable systems, including privacy-preserving compute and on-chain proofs, that ensure AI-driven features don’t compromise user data or fund safety.” The goal is to create ecosystems that are “both intelligent and deeply secure, giving users more automation and context without sacrificing trust.” But the most fascinating friction point, according to Lin, wasn’t about capability, it was about autonomy. “The major friction point was how much autonomy AI agents should have in trading environments,” Lin explains. The debate split the room. She adds: “Some developers argued that agents should manage liquidity, rebalance portfolios, or place orders without human oversight. Others warned that giving AI unrestricted access to execution layers could create systemic risk.” The core disagreement touches on the very nature of human agency in markets: “Should AI be a co-pilot for traders or a fully autonomous participant in market structure?” In Buenos Aires, the consensus seemed to be shifting toward autonomy, provided the guardrails of cryptography are strong enough to hold it. Geography is Destiny, Lessons from the Global South Perhaps the most transformative aspect of Devconnect 2025 was the location itself. Hosting this event in Argentina forced the global developer community to touch grass. While Silicon Valley developers obsess over optimizing code for milliseconds, the people of Buenos Aires obsess over preserving the value of their labor against inflation. Arthur Firstov observed how this radical diversity shifted the conversation from theoretical scaling to survival tools. “Devconnect brought radically different user priorities into the same room,” he says. “Latin American teams highlighted everyday use cases such as ‘wallets on low-cost smartphones’ and rent or payroll paid in stablecoins,” Firstov notes, further adding: “Contrast this with the Asian and US infrastructure teams, who remained focused on “perpetual futures, routing, MEV, and latency.” This collision of worlds forced a synthesis. The conversation moved away from simple “Transactions Per Second” (TPS) bragging rights toward UX and practical deployment. Firstov lists the questions that actually matter now: “How can smart wallets hide complexity so users feel like they are using a normal fintech app? How do we support both ‘high-frequency trading flows and monthly salary payments’ without compromising trust or security?” The biggest realization? “There is no single archetypal user in crypto.” Vivien Lin echoes this sentiment, noting how the Argentine presence grounded the high-flying technical debates. “The diversity of developers, especially strong representation from Argentina, shifted the discussion toward real adoption challenges on the ground, not just theoretical scaling.” Argentine builders didn’t want to talk about the philosophy of money; they wanted to solve immediate problems. Lin explains: “Argentine builders raised issues around inflation, capital controls, and the need for fast settlement rails that work reliably in volatile economies.” This expanded the scope of what an exchange should be, pushing for “AI-powered ecosystems that address both local constraints and broader challenges such as compliance fragmentation, cross-border liquidity, and mobile-first onboarding.” What is Actually Being Built? Infrastructure Over Hype Stepping away from the philosophical and geographical, we must ask: where are the builders actually deploying code? Ivan Machena, Chief Communication Officer at 8lends, provides a sober look at the landscape. The era of “ghost chains”, blockchains with high valuations but no users, is ending. The focus is now on ecosystems that support real products. “Looking at the broader industry conversations happening around Devconnect,” Machena observes, “several layer-2 and application-layer projects continue to attract strong builder interest.” On the consumer front, Machena highlights Base. It is frequently cited for its “rapid growth and smooth onboarding infrastructure,” effectively becoming the gateway for the retail user. In the DeFi segment, Arbitrum retains its crown as the “preferred choice thanks to its mature ecosystem and composability,” while Polygon remains a staple for teams seeking balance. However, Machena notes a migration toward the technically superior. “There is also increasing attention toward zk-based solutions such as zkSync and StarkNet, especially from teams building more technically demanding or long-term products. The trend is clear: Discussions around Devconnect points toward L2s that already support real products, not just experimental concepts.” Arthur Firstov adds another layer to this adoption map, pointing toward the privacy and “agent-native” sectors. He identifies Aztec as drawing “serious attention as a privacy-first environment where products can be ‘private by default, selectively transparent where necessary’.” Crucially, Firstov highlights Privacy Pools as the bridge between the cypherpunk ethos and institutional reality. It emerged as a “compliance-aware solution… a ‘practical answer to what privacy looks like when regulators and serious capital must be comfortable with it’.” Furthermore, the physical world is coming on-chain. Firstov notes a trend of teams building DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks) style storage and compute services, paid for in stablecoins, “aiming to make crypto feel like traditional cloud APIs.” Outlook 2026: From Casino to Cathedral As the attendees of Devconnect 2025 disperse from Buenos Aires, returning to their respective corners of the globe, the mood is undeniably different. The industry is maturing. The cultural ethos of the event, small, technical, community-led sessions rather than massive marketing spectacles is shaping the narrative for the coming year. Arthur Firstov predicts a fundamental pivot in how we tell the story of crypto: “Expect 2026 narratives to reflect that shift, ‘infrastructure story instead of casino story,’ ‘stablecoins as the front end of crypto,’ and privacy as table stakes.” This is a vision of a world where crypto ceases to be a synonym for gambling and becomes the invisible, robust plumbing of the global financial system. The questions are no longer about token prices. As Firstov puts it, the growing question is: “Which Web2–Web3 integrations will actually ship and move the needle on real users?” Vivien Lin agrees, seeing the future in interconnected ecosystems rather than walled gardens. “It reinforced the view that the future of crypto trading will be ecosystem-first. This ethos pushes the industry toward interoperable, AI-powered trading ecosystems where liquidity, identity, execution, and strategy automation become increasingly unified as we move into 2026.” Buenos Aires was a stress test for the soul of crypto. The industry passed, not by offering easy answers, but by finally asking the right, difficult questions. We leave with fewer illusions, but with better tools. The “Casino Story” is dead; the “Infrastructure Story” has begun. And for the first time in a long time, it feels like we are building something that will last.
ZkSync Lite Shuts Down in 2026, Triggers Asset Migration
Quick Breakdown zkSync Lite, the original ZK rollup from 2020, processes fewer than 200 transactions per day before its planned 2026 retirement. $50 million in user funds stay accessible with full Ethereum L1 withdrawal support during transition. The focus shifts to the zkSync Era, ZK Stack chains, and cross-chain upgrades, such as the recent Atlas activation. US Bank crypto entry signals regulatory thaw zkSync Lite, the legacy network that processed over one billion transactions since its launch, is scheduled to be phased out. The end of support for zkSync Lite, announced by zkSync in an X post, follows a sharp decline in daily activity since the introduction of zkSync Era, the full zkEVM in March 2023. 📌In 2026, we plan to deprecate ZKsync Lite (aka ZKsync 1.0), the original ZK-rollup we launched on Ethereum. This is a planned, orderly sunset for a system that has served its purpose and does not affect any other ZKsync systems. — ZKsync (@zksync) December 7, 2025 Users hold around $50 million in bridged assets, but withdrawals to Ethereum Layer 1 remain open, with detailed migration steps set for early 2026 release to prevent bridge congestion. The shutdown remains isolated to zkSync Lite and has no impact on Era or ZK Stack-built chains. ZK ecosystem builds a multi-chain future. ZKsync restructured its governance token to give it clearer economic utility and better value capture across the zero-knowledge ecosystem. Under the new model, the token is tied directly to multiple revenue streams, from protocol fees on-chain to licensing fees from enterprise use off-chain. All of this will be funneled through a governance-managed system to support development, security, and community incentives, with the goal of keeping the network sustainable and independent over the long run. Recent upgrades underscore the pivot: Atlas went live on December 5 with native cross-chain messaging across ZK networks, boosting daily active users as apps adapt. An October proof-of-performance boost added privacy tools for tokenized assets and high-throughput use cases. Meanwhile, on May 13, 2025, a security incident compromised the official X accounts of ZKsync and its developer, Matter Labs, through a phishing scam. Hackers took control of the accounts and disseminated fraudulent claims, including a false report that the company was under investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The attackers also linked these deceptive posts to a counterfeit airdrop intended as a phishing trap for followers. This sophisticated social engineering attack briefly impacted the market, causing a temporary decline in the price of ZKsync’s native token, ZK. Matter Labs quickly confirmed that the posts were fake, announced that they had fully recovered control of their accounts, and is currently investigating the cause of the compromise, which may have been facilitated through delegated third-party accounts.
zkSync Lite to shut down next year as ecosystem shifts to next-gen ZK systems
zkSync has started preparing the retirement of its original ZK-rollup, setting up a transition to more advanced infrastructure across its network. Summary zkSync Lite will be deprecated in 2026 under a planned shutdown process. Funds remain safe, and a migration guide will arrive next year. The ecosystem is focusing on zkSync Era, the ZK Stack, and cross-chain upgrades. In a Dec. 7 post on X, zkSync said it plans to deprecate zkSync Lite, also known as zkSync 1.0, sometime in 2026. The team called it a planned and orderly shutdown for a system that launched in 2020 and helped validate many of the ideas behind modern zero-knowledge rollups. Transition from legacy infrastructure Nothing changes for users today. zkSync ( ZK ) Lite remains online, withdrawals to Ethereum ( ETH ) continue to work, and funds are safe. The team will publish a full deprecation timeline and migration guide next year, including steps for users and developers to move to zkSync Era or other chains built with the ZK Stack. 📌In 2026, we plan to deprecate ZKsync Lite (aka ZKsync 1.0), the original ZK-rollup we launched on Ethereum. This is a planned, orderly sunset for a system that has served its purpose and does not affect any other ZKsync systems. — ZKsync (@zksync) December 7, 2025 zkSync Lite processed more than a billion transactions during its lifetime but now sees fewer than 200 daily transactions. The team said maintaining legacy infrastructure no longer aligns with its focus on Era, Prividiums, and a broader network of ZK chains. Around $50 million in assets are currently bridged to zkSync Lite. These funds remain accessible, and users can withdraw to Ethereum at any time. The team recommends preparing for migration once guidance is released to avoid last-minute congestion in 2026. A comprehensive transition plan is expected in early 2026. zkSync said the move does not affect zkSync Era or any chain built with the ZK Stack and is strictly limited to the first-generation rollup. zkSync’s expansion continues toward a multi-chain ZK network The decision comes alongside technical upgrades across the zkSync ecosystem. On Dec. 5, the Atlas upgrade activated, enabling native cross-chain interoperability across all ZK chains in the network without relying on external bridges. Early activity data shows a rise in daily active users as apps begin to adopt the new messaging standard. A prior upgrade in October improved proof performance and introduced privacy features designed for high-throughput use cases such as tokenized assets. The team says these systems reflect the future direction for ZK infrastructure, with zkSync Lite having already completed its role as a proof-of-concept. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently highlighted zkSync’s ZK roadmap as a key part of Ethereum’s long-term scaling strategy, pointing to the growing role of ZK proofs in decentralized finance and tokenization. With the planned sunset, zkSync is closing the chapter on its earliest rollup and concentrating its resources on what it calls a “network of ZK chains” built on unified cryptography.
Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade Set to Go Live Today, What Changes Can We Expect?
Ethereum Fusaka upgrade set to go live today. ETH enthusiasts are eager to see the positive impact of this launch. What changes can ETheruem network users expect? The crypto market remains in a steady state of what seems to be a sideways movement towards a gradual recovery phase that could extend into a bullish price rally and an extended bull market in a 5-year bull cycle. This, alongside several other factors, spur bullish sentiments. In detail, the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade set to go live today is one of the most bullish signs in the market at the moment. What changes can we expect to see? Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade Set to Go Live The crypto community, especially ETH enthusiasts, are excited to see the fruits of the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade expected to go live today. As we can see from the post below, it stresses how important and big this upgrade is for the Ethereum network and ETH. For instance, the last major upgrade (Pectra) pushed ETH up 50% in one week, and Fusaka is a much bigger upgrade than Pectra. ETHEREUM'S FUSAKA UPGRADE WILL GO LIVE TODAY 🚨 And most people still don’t understand how big this is for $ETH . The last major upgrade (Pectra) pushed ETH up 50% in one week and Fusaka is a much bigger upgrade than Pectra. Ethereum has one major problem right now: L2 data… pic.twitter.com/kbutqtxOTU — Crypto Rover (@cryptorover) December 3, 2025 The post goes on to elaborate on the impact that this upgrade is set to bring. To start off, it highlights Ethereum’s one major problem right now: L2 data congestion. Rollups like Base, Arbitrum, OP and zkSync all push their data back to Ethereum , but today every node must download the entire blob file to verify it. This slows the network, increases bandwidth use, and keeps L2 fees higher than they should be. Fusaka fixes this in a very simple way. First, block capacity increases from 45 million to 150 million gas. This instantly gives Ethereum almost 3× more room for transactions, smart contracts, and rollup data. More room means more activity, and more activity means more ETH burned. Second, Fusaka adds PeerDAS . Instead of downloading full blob files, nodes now check small random pieces. Impact of Fusaka on Ethereum and Crypto This reduces load on nodes, lowers costs for rollups, and makes Ethereum handle far more data without slowing down. Third, Fusaka adds Verkle Trees, which make Ethereum’s state smaller and easier to verify. This means nodes sync faster, storage becomes lighter, and Ethereum becomes easier to operate long-term. What does this mean for everyday users? Faster confirmations. More stable gas fees. Cheaper L2 transactions. Less congestion during busy hours. Everything simply feels smoother without users changing anything. For L2s, the impact is even larger. Rollups depend on blob space. Fusaka increases that space and reduces verification costs at the same time. This lets L2s scale far faster, which means more transactions, more activity, and more ETH being used, and every L2 transaction eventually settles on Ethereum, which burns ETH. More rollup activity leads to more settlement, which means more burn, and stronger ETH economics . This is why Fusaka is not just a performance upgrade. It directly strengthens Ethereum’s demand, usage, and fee burn model, and the price part matters too. When Pectra launched, ETH pumped 50% in a week, even though Pectra was smaller and focused on wallets and staking. Fusaka increases capacity, reduces costs, improves data handling, and boosts the burn rate. It is a deeper, more meaningful upgrade. Ethereum becomes faster, cheaper, lighter, and more scalable starting today, and the market still hasn’t priced in how big this is for ETH.
Aave community proposes to adjust V3 multi-chain deployment strategy by shutting down low-yield markets on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium
Foresight News reported that the Aave community has proposed a temperature check proposal titled "Focusing on Aave V3 Multi-Chain Strategy," suggesting adjustments to its multi-chain strategy. The proposal includes increasing the reserve factor for underperforming networks to boost revenue, shutting down low-yield markets on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium, and setting a clear annual revenue threshold of $2 million for new instance deployments.
Aave DAO mulls pulling back 'multichain strategy,' deprecating zkSync, Metis and Soneium instances
Aave's community is considering shutting down underperforming instances on low-value networks, according to an ongoing discussion in its governance channel. "Aave maintains several V3 instances which each carry operational costs and present risk surface area. It is believed that the revenue generated by several of these instances is not sufficient to offset the costs and risks they incur," an Aave Chan Initiative rep posted in a "Temp Check" in late November. While not yet a formal governance procedure, the active debate could presage a strategic reversal for the largest decentralized lending protocol, which has historically taken a maximalist view when it comes to launching on new blockchains. Launched in 2018, Aave is by far the largest decentralized lending protocol, accounting for over 81% of the total outstanding debt on Ethereum, according to The Block's data . The project is live on at least 18 chains, including a litany of Ethereum Layer 2s, as well as alternative Layer 1s like Aptos and Sonic , among others. Now, the ACI, a major delegate platform for the Aave DAO, appears to want to roll back some of this expansion and impose stricter requirements for future deployments. Low revenue According to the forum discussion, ACI's Growth SP is proposing rolling back Aave instances on zkSync, Metis, and Sony's Soneium network, which "have proven to lack product market fit." These three chains have attracted the lowest total value locked compared to other Aave deployments, and account for a fraction of Aave's income. For instance, Metis, which was co-founded by Vitalik Buterin's mother Natalia Ameline, currently sees just over $3,000 in annualized revenue. Soneium fares a bit better with annualized revenue over $50,000. By comparison, Aave's largest deployment on the Ethereum mainnet sees over $142 million in revenue while Base brings in $4.7 million with just a $1.8 million TVL. "In addition to the low revenue, some of these chains require additional engineering effort for any new asset onboardings, which, given current service provider workload and low pay-off, is not currently feasible," ACI wrote. As part of its proposal, ACI also suggested a $2 million annual revenue floor for future deployments and instituting a stablecoin "Reserve Factor" for other small earners. ACI called out Polygon, Gnosis, BNB Chain, Optimism, Scroll, Sonic, and Celo as potential candidates for additional reserve requirements to would lock up stablecoins like Aave's GHO or Wrapped ETH to boost revenue. So far, Aave DAO snapshot has received 100% support in a poll that closes Dec. 5. A Temp Check is generally seen as the first step towards a governance vote, and is a way to gauge sentiment and kickstart a conversation. Community discussion For its part, Aave governance adviser TokenLogic is in favor of scaling back Aave's multichain strategy, including deprecating the three "structurally non-viable" deployments on zkSync, Metis, and Soneium. However, TokenLogic took a more nuanced view of other low-performing chains like BNB Chain, Polygon, and Optimism, which represent a "strategically important position." ACI co-founder Marc Zeller separately posted that exceptions could be made for low-revenue chains depending on certain tradeoffs. "Celo has a high user count and is low maintenance; I’m not yet in favor of deprecation of this instance," Zeller argued. Likewise, some other AAVE governance token holders urge a more cautious approach towards deprecation. Nano noted that ACI's proposal could lead to a slippery slope where only major instances like Aave on Ethereum, Base, Avalanche, and Arbitrum are viable. "This would drastically reduce Aave's presence across the ecosystem and significantly shrink its potential user base," Nano wrote. "Such concentration goes against the broader market trend, where multichain expansion is viewed as a key driver of growth, and most projects are doing everything they can to be available on more chains — not fewer." Notably, Aave is often incentivized to deploy on new chains. ZKSync, for instance, airdropped the highest share of ZK tokens to the protocol out of any "native project," despite the fact it hadn't launched on the chain at the time. The DAO also votes against certain deployments — like its decision to skip Ethereum Layer 2 network Mode. If the Temp Check passes the snapshot vote, ACI will then be able to publish an Aave Request for Comments and then later progress to an official vote.
The total value locked in Optimism bridge surpasses 1 million ETH
According to Jinse Finance, Dune data shows that the total value stored in the zkSync bridge has reached 3,874,716 ETH, while the total value bridged (TVB) on Starknet is 999,644 ETH, with a total of 1,228,885 bridge user addresses. The total value stored in the Arbitrum bridge is 5,865,348 ETH, Optimism bridge stores 1,018,045 ETH, and Base bridge stores 2,817,409 ETH.
Ethereum’s Layer‑2 Surge Signals Next ETH Price Rally—But a Key Hurdle Remains
Story Highlights Ethereum has entered a fresh consolidation phase near $3,078, yet its broader ecosystem appears to be heating up faster than the price suggests. While Bitcoin’s volatility has dominated market sentiment, Ethereum’s Layer-2 networks have quietly taken over the majority of transaction activity across the entire ecosystem. With L2s now processing more transactions than Ethereum itself and a major upgrade scheduled for early December, the groundwork for the next ETH price rally may already be forming beneath the surface. Advertisement Ethereum’s Layer-2 networks have become the primary driver of activity across the ecosystem, handling more transactions than the base layer itself. These solutions reduce fees, increase throughput, and allow faster settlements, enabling developers and users to scale applications efficiently without congestion. This shift highlights how Ethereum’s growth is increasingly L2‑driven, even if the ETH price hasn’t fully reflected it yet. Key On-Chain Metrics Daily active addresses: Stable, showing no major drop in user activity ETH supply post-Merge: Continues trending neutral to slightly deflationary Transaction fees: Lower than Q1–Q3 2024 levels, improving network usage conditions L2 gas consumption: Consistently rising, reflecting heavy rollup usage Developer activity: Among the highest across smart-contract networks L2s now process over 58.5% of all Ethereum ecosystem transactions. Total L2 TVL has grown to $43.3 billion, marking a 36.7% YoY surge. Several major L2 networks are leading this surge, including Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, zkSync, and Starknet, each processing millions of transactions daily. Their growing adoption reflects Ethereum’s scaling progress and underlines why L2 growth could be the catalyst for the next ETH price rally. Ethereum’s next major upgrade, Fusaka, is scheduled for December 3, 2025, and aims to further enhance the network’s efficiency and Layer-2 scalability. This upgrade introduces PeerDAS blob sampling, improved data handling for rollups, and optimizations for BPO forks, all designed to reduce congestion and costs on L2 networks. Expected Impacts: 40%–60% reduction in Layer-2 data fees, making transactions cheaper for end-users and developers. Higher rollup throughput allows for more transactions per second and smoother network operations. Faster settlement confirmation on L2s, strengthening Ethereum’s role as the base layer for scalable applications. Historically, Ethereum upgrades such as EIP-1559 and Dencun have triggered increased on-chain activity and positive medium-term price moves. Fusaka could similarly act as a catalyst, reinforcing Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem and potentially providing momentum for ETH’s next price rally. Following the recovery from the local lows close to $2700, the ETH price has managed not only to rise above $3000, but also to hold the range. The price is surging even in times of thin liquidity, which indicates the bulls are overpowering the bears in the short term. However, a breakout above $3150 may validate a reversal, but the technicals currently remain neutral. The ETH price has begun to rebound, which may appear as the start of a recovery phase, but the major challenge remains. The 50/200-day MA are close to undergoing a bearish crossover, called the ’death cross,’ which has a massive negative impact on the rally. Previously, in March, this caused a 45% pullback, and if it validates now, the ETH price is feared to drop as low as $3,350. However, the RSI remains elevated; hence, the Ethereum price could stay in a consolidation phase for a while. Market sentiment remains under fear despite the recovery. Besides, the strength behind Ethereum lies in the L2S and the upcoming upgrade. Therefore, we need to wait and see how the next ETH price action unfolds, as a rise to $2500, which is an important resistance, may shed light on the path to $5000.
zkFOL: The Bitcoin Soft Fork Promising Native Privacy & DeFi
Summarize this article with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok For over a decade, Bitcoin has remained frozen in apparent simplicity. Its Script language, deliberately limited, has sacrificed expressiveness on the altar of security. Meanwhile, Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche have captured hundreds of billions of dollars in liquidity by offering programmable smart contracts. But this expressiveness came with vulnerabilities: reentrancy, unpredictable execution costs, critical attacks. Read us on Google News In Brief zkFOL brings native DeFi and privacy to Bitcoin without breaking its security model. A mathematical breakthrough turns first-order logic into verifiable polynomials, enabling complex smart contracts. ModulusZK’s approach offers fast proofs, true programmability, and a path to a future Bitcoin soft fork. What if Bitcoin could have the best of both worlds? That’s exactly what zkFOL promises—a revolutionary soft fork concept from ModulusZK, that brings native DeFi and privacy to Bitcoin without compromising its fundamental philosophy. This innovation relies neither on risky workarounds nor on federated sidechains. It’s built on a major mathematical breakthrough: the arithmetization of first-order logic. The Problem: Bitcoin Script, a Deliberately Constrained Language Bitcoin Script was designed to be predictable and secure. No loops, no recursion, no mutable global state. Each transaction validates in deterministic time, ensuring the network cannot be blocked by infinite computations. This rigor is why Bitcoin has never suffered a major exploit at the consensus level. But this conservatism comes at a price. Bitcoin Script cannot: Store state between transactions Execute complex conditional logic Handle multi-party contracts without enormous manual scripts Support 64-bit arithmetic or floating-point numbers As a result, 99% of DeFi innovations were built elsewhere. Developers wanting to create AMMs, lending protocols, or complex vaults had to migrate to Ethereum, or build side chains—diluting Bitcoin’s dominance despite its overwhelming market capitalization. The Breakthrough: Arithmetizing Logic to Make It Verifiable The zkFOL solution rests on an elegant yet profound mathematical insight: transform logic directly into polynomials. In modern cryptography, arithmetic circuits (combinations of multiplications and additions over finite fields) have replaced traditional Boolean circuits for a simple reason: polynomials can be verified succinctly. Thanks to the Schwartz-Zippel lemma, verifying that a polynomial equals zero at a random point suffices to prove its identity with negligible error probability. Recent research by Dr. Murdoch Gabbay in arithmetization has demonstrated that it is possible to translate any first-order logic predicate (FOL) directly into an equivalent polynomial over a finite field. Concretely: Logical conjunctions (∧) become additions Disjunctions (∨) become multiplications Universal quantifiers (∀) translate to finite sums Existential quantifiers (∃) become finite products Result: A complex logical predicate compiles into a single polynomial, whose verification reduces to evaluating at a random point and checking it equals zero. This verification takes constant time, independent of the predicate’s initial complexity. From Theory to Implementation: ModulusZK’s Approach While the mathematical foundations come from academic research, ModulusZK is the team translating this breakthrough into production systems. Founded by the pseudonymous Mr O’Modulus—who authored the soft fork proposal—ModulusZK is building what they call Layer X: a proof coordination layer that applies FOL arithmetization across multiple blockchain contexts. The Bitcoin zkFOL implementation represents one application of their broader vision: instead of building yet another competing chain, they’re creating universal proving infrastructure that enhances existing networks. How zkFOL Works in Practice The zkFOL system applies Gabbay’s arithmetization directly to Bitcoin through a two-phase approach: Phase 1: Layer-2 Architecture with 1:1 Peg zkFOL operates initially as a Layer-2 anchored to Bitcoin: Users lock BTC in a transparent multi-signature vault on the Bitcoin blockchain (Layer 1) They receive wBTC-FOL (1:1 with locked BTC) on the zkFOL layer All DeFi transactions (swaps, loans, yield farming) execute off-chain with zero-knowledge proofs Proof commitments are periodically anchored to Bitcoin to guarantee data availability Withdrawal releases BTC from the vault after cryptographic verification of the final state Unlike existing solutions, zkFOL relies on no trusted validators. Verification is purely mathematical. Phase 2: Soft Fork Integration (Future) Once proven secure and efficient as Layer-2, the long-term goal is bringing polynomial verification directly to Bitcoin’s base layer through a soft fork—a backward-compatible protocol upgrade. Compilation: Logic → Polynomial → Proof Each zkFOL contract is specified in first-order logic. For example, a constant product AMM is simply written as: ∀X. (Δreserve_A × Δreserve_B = k) ∧ (fees ≤ 1%) This formula automatically compiles into: A multivariate polynomial where each term encodes a constraint A cryptographic commitment hiding the coefficients A zero-knowledge proof (zkSNARK) attesting that the polynomial evaluates to zero at the verified point The verifier only needs to: Calculate an evaluation at a random point Verify the polynomial commitment Confirm the result equals zero All in constant time, regardless of contract complexity. Why This Matters: The Circuit-First Paradigm Trap The entire ZK industry has been trapped in what ModulusZK calls the “circuit-first paradigm”—trying to make arithmetic circuits more efficient rather than questioning whether circuits are the right abstraction at all. Traditional ZK Approach (zkSync, StarkNet, Polygon): // Developer must manually write 200+ circuit constraints circuit SwapCircuit { // Manual constraint writing for every operation assert(user_balance_before.usdc >= usdc_amount_in); assert(user_balance_after.usdc == user_balance_before.usdc – usdc_amount_in); // … 200+ more constraints Problems: Requires specialized circuit engineers ($200k+ salaries) 5-30 second proof generation times Fixed settlement patterns (zkSync → Ethereum only) Monolithic design locks logic into proof system ModulusZK’s zkFOL Approach: Natural logic specification – anyone can write this: swap_valid = ∀swap_event.( balance_conserved(swap_event) ∧ price_fair(swap_event) ∧ user_authorized(swap_event) ModulusZK’s thesis is that circuits weren’t necessary in the first place. Dr. Gabbay’s revolution was that logical validity and polynomial evaluation are mathematically dual—you can translate directly between them. Concrete Applications for Bitcoin: DeFi Without Compromise DEX and AMM with Private Liquidity Automated market makers (Uniswap-style) function natively on zkFOL. The x × y = k invariant becomes a logical predicate verified by a polynomial. Traders submit orders, validators generate a proof that the invariant is respected, and the transaction executes—without revealing amounts or counterparties. Protocol fees are automatically collected, and LPs receive their proportional share, all cryptographically verified. Collateralized Loans with Dynamic Ratios A decentralized lending protocol requires collateral / debt ≥ minimum_ratio. In zkFOL, this ratio becomes a polynomial constraint: ∀X. (collateral_amount(X) ≥ ρ × debt_amount(X)) No need for persistent contracts or external oracles. Each loan produces a proof that the ratio is respected. Repayment generates another proof releasing the collateral. Everything is local, deterministic, and instantly verifiable. Multi-Signature Vaults with Conditional Logic Current Bitcoin vaults are limited to simple multisigs (2-of-3, 3-of-5). zkFOL enables arbitrary spending conditions: (owner_signature ∧ delay < 1_year) ∨ (heir_signature ∧ delay ≥ 1_year) ∨ (3-of-5_trustees ∧ emergency) Each clause compiles into an additional polynomial term. Verification confirms that at least one branch has been satisfied. Result: programmable inheritance, emergency recovery, and institutional custody—all in a few lines of logic. Market Comparison Feature zkSync/StarkNet Aztec Privacy ModulusZK zkFOL Developer Experience Circuit engineering Custom language (Noir) Natural logic (FOL) Proof Generation 5-30 seconds 10+ seconds ~1-3 seconds (est.) Privacy Model None/Limited Isolated privacy pool Composable + compliant Settlement Flexibility Fixed (L2→L1) Fixed Dynamic multi-chain Stablecoin Optimization None None Native support Beyond Bitcoin: The Layer X Vision While zkFOL demonstrates the technology for Bitcoin, ModulusZK’s broader vision with Layer X is more ambitious: creating a universal proof coordination layer that works across all blockchains. Traditional blockchain architecture forces hierarchical dependencies: L3 needs L2 L2 needs L1 Each layer is stuck in this structure Layer X breaks this model. It’s not another L1, L2, or L3—it’s orthogonal to traditional layers, providing proof infrastructure that any chain can use: Users → Create proof → Choose where to send it: ├── Ethereum (for security) ├── Celestia (for cheap storage) ├── Solana (for speed) └── Any other chain (for specific needs) The same FOL-to-polynomial translation that powers Bitcoin zkFOL can power: Cross-chain DeFi Multi-chain gaming Institutional settlement between different networks Privacy-preserving stablecoin systems (like their Plasma partnership proposal) A Catalyst for Bitcoin DeFi Renaissance If zkFOL moves forward, Bitcoin could recapture the DeFi liquidity that migrated to other chains. The advantages are massive: Nearly 2 trillion dollars in market capitalization becomes programmable Increased Bitcoin transactions through zkFOL settlements increase fee income for miners, strengthening long-term mining security Developers can code in formal logic, a safer and more auditable paradigm than Solidity Native privacy without suspicious mixer UX The project is in development with products planned for 2026, but the roadmap is clear and the mathematical foundations are solid. Unlike many crypto projects relying on vague promises, zkFOL is built on published academic results. Philosophical Alignment with Bitcoin ModulusZK’s zkFOL doesn’t seek to transform Bitcoin into an “Ethereum-killer.” It amplifies Bitcoin’s founding principles: Simplicity: Complexity is externalized in proofs; consensus remains streamlined Security: No new cryptographic assumptions, no new attack surfaces Opt-in: Users who don’t want zkFOL are unaffected Predictability: Verification costs are deterministic and bounded Innovation isn’t happening against Bitcoin, but with Bitcoin. It’s a natural mathematical evolution of its script model, not an architectural rupture. The Pseudonymous Founder: Mr O’Modulus In true Satoshi Nakamoto-esque style, ModulusZK’s founder operates under the pseudonym “Mr O’Modulus”—the same researcher who authored the underlying BitLogic whitepaper. This approach mirrors Bitcoin’s own origins: letting the mathematics speak louder than individual identity. This innovation is all down to, and stems from, Dr. Murdoch Jamie Gabbay—an Alonzo Church Prize Winner (a prestigious award in logic and computation) and undersung pioneer of the ZK space. This combination of pseudonymous vision and academic rigor creates unique credibility: the technology isn’t just engineering improvements, but fundamental advances in how logic and computation interact. When Mathematics Reconciles Security and Expressiveness For years, the crypto industry accepted a false dilemma: either Bitcoin’s rigid security or Ethereum’s expressiveness with its vulnerabilities. zkFOL proves this compromise wasn’t necessary. By arithmetizing first-order logic and compiling it into polynomials verifiable through zero-knowledge, ModulusZK’s approach transforms Bitcoin into a network capable of hosting complete DeFi—swaps, loans, vaults, yield—without sacrificing determinism or introducing new attack vectors. This isn’t an additional abstraction layer, nor yet another sidechain. It’s a natural mathematical extension of Bitcoin, aligned with its philosophy, reinforced by recent advances in applied cryptography, and carrying major disruptive potential. Bitcoin doesn’t need to become Ethereum. With zkFOL, it can become better. Itself.
Vitalik Hails zkSync Airbender L1 Prover Breakthrough on 5090s
Ethereum researchers and developers celebrated a major technical leap this week. After zkSync’s Airbender prover demonstrated it could generate a full Ethereum L1 block proof. While using just two RTX 5090 GPUs. The achievement, confirmed ahead of the Ethproofs Day event in Buenos Aires. It drew high praise from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. He called it a “huge milestone” for the network’s scalability roadmap. Airbender Prover Pushes Ethereum Into “Gigagas” Territory According to Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake, the zkSync team achieved real-time proof generation. While using a single consumer-grade machine running two 5090 GPUs. Drake described the setup as “basically a toaster.” He highlights how low the hardware requirements have become for an operation. That historically demanded large data center resources. 吴说获悉，以太坊基金会研究员 Justin Drake 发推表示 zkSync Airbender 证明器已实现仅用两张 RTX 5090 显卡即可快速生成完整 L1 区块证明，标志着 L1 Gas Limit 可大幅提升，L2 费用将进一步趋近于零。Vitalik 高度评价其为“巨大里程碑”，同时指出所有同类系统普遍存在平均性能与最差情况约 60… — 吴说区块链 (@wublockchain12) November 22, 2025 Drake said the breakthrough could unlock “gigagas L1,” suggesting that Ethereum’s gas limit may rise significantly from current levels. Higher gas limits allow more transactions per block. This then reduces congestion and lowers fees across the ecosystem. Developers also expect L2 fees to move closer to zero as a result. This is making Ethereum more accessible to everyday users. The Airbender team plans to showcase the prover live at Ethproofs Day. Where developers from across the ecosystem gather to demonstrate advances in zero-knowledge technology. Vitalik Praises Progress but Warns of Worst Case Gaps While impressed by the speed improvements, Vitalik Buterin urged the community to remain cautious. He pointed out that proving times often differ dramatically between average and worst-case blocks. Sometimes by as much as 60 times. Vitalik Buterin explained that pushing for faster hardware alone won’t solve this gap. Instead, he suggested a more sustainable path. Repricing gas for operations that are extremely expensive for zk provers, such as RSA verification. By raising gas costs for those niche workloads. The network can avoid an arms race while still enabling a higher gas limit overall. Vitalik Buterin said this trade-off is fair as Ethereum moves into a new era of scaling. Where blocks must remain cheap to prove even under heavy usage. Ethproofs Day Brings Builders Together The timing of the Airbender announcement aligns with Ethproofs Day. A focused event at Devconnect featuring talks and demos from leading zk teams. The event is fully booked with more than 225 confirmed attendees and many more on the waitlist. Participants will spend the day hearing 15 minute research talks, panel discussions and rapid-fire lightning sessions. Devconnect will also provide all-day snacks, drinks and networking spaces across the venue. Although the event won’t be livestreamed. The recordings will be uploaded to the Ethereum YouTube channel after the conference. A Breakthrough That Shifts Ethereum Scaling Timeline The Airbender prover’s performance marks a meaningful shift in Ethereum’s scaling trajectory. For years, researchers assumed that proving full L1 blocks would demand specialized hardware or large clusters. Now, the path to consumer-grade proving appears much closer than expected. As Vitalik Buterin noted, Ethereum still needs to address worst-case performance. Yet the breakthrough already signals a future where block proving becomes decentralized cheap and fast. It is paving the way for a much more scalable Ethereum ecosystem.
AAVE & ZKSYNC Are Just Hype, Zero Knowledge Proof’s World First ICA Could be Start of a 1000x Run
Sponsored Post Disclaimer: This publication was produced under a paid arrangement with a third-party advertiser. It should not be relied upon as financial or investment counsel. While market speculation fixates on the volatile Aave (AAVE) price forecast and the narrative-driven ZkSync (ZKSYNC) price rise, a deeper structural issue persists. The mechanisms for launching new assets remain fraught with insider advantages, technical failures, and prohibitive gas wars. What if the fundamental problem of fair distribution was solved not by hype, but by mathematics? Points Cover In This Article: Toggle Zero Knowledge Proof’s ICA: A New Standard for Token Launches Aave (AAVE) Price Forecast and Strong Fundamentals Understanding the Recent ZkSync (ZKSYNC) Price Rise A New Blueprint for the Next Most Popular Cryptocurrency This is the premise behind Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) , a fully built project whose design answers that question with cryptographic elegance. It sidesteps the usual presale chaos by implementing a daily proportional auction. This mechanism, where fairness is mathematically enforced and token distribution is immediate, eliminating bots, manual claims, and waiting periods, presents a structural challenge to the status quo, offering a potential blueprint for what the most popular cryptocurrency launch should look like. Zero Knowledge Proof’s ICA: A New Standard for Token Launches Traditional token presales are often frustrating, defined by gas wars, racing against bots, and failed transactions. Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) introduces a completely different model designed for fairness. It uses a daily 24-hour auction system. This approach removes the chaos, allowing anyone to participate without the typical technical hurdles. It’s a mechanism built on mathematical transparency rather than speed. Here’s how it functions: Every 24 hours, a new auction window opens, distributing 200 million Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) coins. You can contribute using wallets like MetaMask or Trust Wallet and over 20 cryptocurrencies (including ETH, USDC, and BNB). Participation is capped between $50 and $50,000 to prevent whale dominance. When the window closes, distribution is automatic and proportional. If you contribute 1% of the total pool, you receive 1% of the 200 million coins. This could be the standard for the next most popular cryptocurrency. And after the auctions, the Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) coins instantly appear in your dashboard, no manual claiming required. This immediate, verifiable system sets a new bar for fairness, one that many hope the next most popular cryptocurrency will adopt. The project itself is fully built and ready for its launch. Aave (AAVE) Price Forecast and Strong Fundamentals Aave (AAVE) is demonstrating significant market strength, currently trading within a solid corridor of $208 to $224. The token’s momentum is clear, backed by a 24-hour jump of over 4.6% and impressive weekly gains that have reached 8%. While the short-term technical outlook appears varied, a more powerful long-term “Buy” signal reportedly flashed on November 11. This has added considerable weight to an already exciting Aave (AAVE) price forecast, suggesting a strong undercurrent of investor confidence that goes beyond daily fluctuations. The driving force behind this bullishness is Aave’s exceptional on-chain performance, which is breaking records. The protocol is reportedly generating over $3 million in weekly revenue as total deposits have surged past an incredible $56 billion. Furthermore, this isn’t just confined to traditional DeFi. Aave’s “Project Horizon,” its Real-World Asset (RWA) market, has also achieved a major milestone, crossing the $450 million mark. This robust fundamental backing is precisely why analysts are now discussing a potential “2x breakout,” setting a bullish Aave (AAVE) price forecast with ambitious targets as high as $450. Understanding the Recent ZkSync (ZKSYNC) Price Rise ZkSync (ZKSYNC) experienced a massive surge in early November, with gains reportedly flying over 150%. This was far from random, driven by huge fundamental developments that captured investor excitement. A new tokenomics proposal, centered on buying back and burning tokens, was a major catalyst. This was amplified by praise from Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin, who called ZkSync’s tech “underrated.” Coupled with the “Atlas” upgrade targeting 15,000 TPS and growing interest from major banks, the ZkSync (ZKSYNC) price rise became one of the month’s biggest stories. Following such a dramatic run, the token has entered a natural cool-off period. As of November 12, the price has corrected by approximately 7.3% as early traders secure their profits. While the long-term drivers that sparked the rally remain firmly in place, all eyes are now on the immediate short-term. A large token unlock of 173 million ZK is scheduled for November 17. This is a critical event to watch, as the new supply could create significant sell pressure and heavily impact the next phase for the ZkSync (ZKSYNC) price rise. A New Blueprint for the Next Most Popular Cryptocurrency The market is clearly energized. A bullish Aave (AAVE) price forecast rests on record-high revenues, while the recent ZkSync (ZKSYNC) price rise highlighted the power of strong technical upgrades. These projects show the rewards available from both established and emerging protocols, painting a picture of a vibrant and active crypto space. But for all this excitement, the launch process itself has remained a problem, until now. Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) offers a solution with its daily auction model. By ensuring proportional, bot-free distribution with instant token delivery, it’s not just launching a new asset; it’s providing a fair and verifiable system that could become the standard for the next most popular cryptocurrency. Find Out More about Zero Knowledge Proof: Disclaimer: The text above is an advertorial article that is not part of CoinLineup editorial content.
ZK Casino Begins Gradual Refunds Months After $33M Collapse
Quick Breakdown Approximately 35% of affected wallets have received partial refunds, with additional batches expected to follow. The collapse affected over 10,000 users, resulting in losses estimated at $33 million. Full recovery remains uncertain due to legal and liquidity constraints. Refunds resume after a long silence ZK Casino has re-emerged with a new update after months of inactivity, confirming that it has begun partial repayments to users affected by its widely criticized collapse. The project’s anonymous founder, known as Derivatives Monke, shared the announcement on X on November 10. We have just processed ~35% of all ETH withdrawal requests for @ZKasino_io bridgers (approx 2500/8000 addresses). If you are among these ~35%, you will find your ETH either on: – zkSync Lite: simply connect your regular EVM account and it should be… — Derivatives Monke (@Derivatives_Ape) November 9, 2025 According to the update, approximately 35% of wallets that bridged ETH to the platform have now received refunds, which were processed through zkSync Lite and zkSync Era. The founder added that further batches are scheduled for the coming week, and some users may receive additional compensation depending on the final balance assessments. However, users seeking large withdrawals will be required to undergo identity verification, which the founder attributed to legal compliance measures. Background of the collapse ZK Casino launched in April 2024 with a model promising users yield for bridging ETH to a supposed layer-2 environment while still allowing withdrawals at any time. Instead, user deposits were converted into vested ZKAS tokens, while the underlying ETH was staked on Lido. The move resulted in losses estimated at over $33 million, affecting more than 10,000 users. The project was heavily criticized across the crypto sector, with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin questioning the platform’s claim of using zero-knowledge technology. Subsequent on-chain analysis suggested links to previous fraudulent schemes. Dutch authorities later made several arrests , but only a limited portion of the funds was recovered. A 26-year-old individual was arrested by the Fiscal Information and Investigation Service (FIOD) on April 29. Ongoing recovery and skepticism The founder stated that another 40% of refunds may be processed next week, potentially raising total repayments to about 75% of affected accounts. Even with renewed progress, the timeline for complete recovery remains unclear. The outcome depends on remaining on-chain assets, legal negotiations, and liquidity conditions. Many victims remain cautious, citing the lack of third-party oversight and the project’s initial deception. Take control of your crypto portfolio with MARKETS PRO, DeFi Planet’s suite of analytics tools.”
ZK Casino begins partial repayments in long-running $33M rug pull case
ZK Casino has resurfaced with an unexpected update after months of silence surrounding its collapsed project. Summary 35% of affected users have now received refunds. Another wave of payouts may bring that to 75% next week. Full recovery remains unclear after more than a year of disputes. ZK Casino is moving forward with slow, partial repayments in one of crypto’s most drawn-out collapse disputes. The update was shared by the project’s anonymous founder, known as Derivatives Monke, on X on Nov. 10. The founder said about 35% of addresses that bridged Ethereum ( ETH ) to the platform have now received refunds on either zkSync Lite or zkSync Era, with more batches expected next week. The amounts are still being adjusted, and some users may receive added interest depending on how final balances are calculated. Larger withdrawals will require identity checks, which the founder said is due to legal requirements. We have just processed ~35% of all ETH withdrawal requests for @ZKasino_io bridgers (approx 2500/8000 addresses). If you are among these ~35%, you will find your ETH either on: – zkSync Lite: https://t.co/t3mQyR3KQ1 simply connect your regular EVM account and it should be… https://t.co/krNESLUqQ0 — Derivatives Monke (@Derivatives_Ape) November 9, 2025 The scam that unfolded ZK Casino launched in April 2024 with a pitch that users could bridge ETH into its layer-2 chain, earn yield, and withdraw their original ETH at any time. Instead of processing refunds, the project converted those deposits into vested ZKAS tokens and staked the ETH on Lido. More than 10,000 users were affected, and losses were estimated at around $33 million. The project drew heavy criticism from across the crypto community, including from Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin, who disputed its claims that it used zero-knowledge technology at all. On-chain researchers later connected the team to earlier scams, and Dutch authorities made multiple arrests during the initial fallout, though only a small share of funds was recovered at that time. The refund process now The current refund progress offers some relief, but it does not signal a full resolution. Only around one-third of users have received their funds so far, and the founder said the team is working with multiple parties to complete the remaining payouts. The update suggested that another 40% of refunds may be processed next week, which would bring total payouts to about 75% of all affected wallets. However, the timeline remains uncertain, and final recoveries may depend on liquidity conditions, legal pressure, and how remaining on-chain assets are handled. Many affected users remain skeptical, noting the long delays and the lack of third-party oversight.
Ethereum Platform Hosts First Live Tokenized Fund Transaction by Swiss Banking Titan
Key Points UBS has completed the world’s first live, in-production tokenized fund transaction. The transaction involved uMINT, a tokenized money market fund operating on the Ethereum blockchain. UBS, the Swiss banking giant, has made history by successfully executing the world’s first live, in-production tokenized fund transaction. This transaction was carried out end-to-end, involving subscription and redemption requests for a tokenized money market fund, marking a significant step in the institutional adoption of blockchain-based financial products. Details of the Transaction The transaction involved the UBS USD Money Market Investment Fund Token, also known as uMINT, which operates on the Ethereum blockchain. DigiFT, an on-chain fund distributor, played a crucial role in the transaction, utilizing the Chainlink Digital Transfer Agent technical standard to handle the fund operations. Both subscription and redemption requests were processed through this automated system. The Chainlink DTA standard integrates several technologies, including Chainlink Runtime Environment, Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol, Automated Compliance Engine, and NAVLink. These components allow Chainlink’s oracle network to automate fund lifecycle operations such as order processing, execution, settlement, and data synchronization between on-chain and off-chain systems. The standard supports three settlement models: Offchain, Local Onchain, and Cross-chain Onchain. The Chainlink CCIP integration has been deployed across multiple blockchain applications in 2025. UBS and Tokenization UBS developed this capability through its UBS Tokenize service, which also focuses on tokenizing bonds and structured products. The bank currently manages $6.9 trillion in invested assets as of the third quarter of 2025 and operates as the leading universal bank in Switzerland and a principal global wealth manager. This transaction is a continuation of UBS’s work with Chainlink under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Project Guardian initiative. Earlier in 2025, UBS tested on zkSync for its Key4 Gold service proof-of-concept. This transaction represents UBS’s first live deployment of tokenized fund operations on a public blockchain. DigiFT processed the subscription and redemption orders using the DTA standard’s automated compliance and settlement features. The system handled order taking, execution, and final settlement without manual intervention. Despite the recent volatility in Chainlink (LINK) price, the growing institutional adoption of its infrastructure is evident.
The GENIUS Act’s $250M battle begins now: Bitcoin stands as the last bastion against censorship
The GENIUS Act became law on July 18 after Congress settled that stablecoins should be regulated. What happens next is a two-year rulemaking war that determines whether $250 billion in existing stablecoins flows into bank-wrapped structures or fragments into offshore silos, and whether Bitcoin and Ethereum capture the fallout or get buried under it. Justin Slaughter, Paradigm’s VP of regulatory affairs, stated on Nov. 6: “Little known fact—after the legislation is enacted, the real battle begins.” His firm just filed comments on the Treasury’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking. The central fight is whether affiliates of stablecoin issuers pay yield to holders through separate products, and Congress already decided they can. Yet, Treasury might try to rewrite that. The ability to offer yield via wrappers is where the next battle will take place. If regulators win, stablecoins become neutered bank products. If the industry wins, they compete with banks on rates. Although the law is done, the rules are not. And the rules decide everything. When compliance becomes mandatory GENIUS builds a perimeter over three years, then locks the gates. The framework takes effect on Jan. 18, 2027, or 120 days after the final regulations are published, whichever comes first. Federal agencies have one year from enactment to issue those regulations. A three-year grace period expires July 18, 2028. After that, US exchanges, custodians, and most DeFi front ends cannot offer “payment stablecoins” unless a permitted payment stablecoin issuer or a Treasury-blessed foreign equivalent issues them. Issuers under $10 billion can use approved state regimes, while larger issuers must migrate into the federal track. Foreign issuers need “comparable regime” determinations, OCC registration, and US-held reserves. This timeline means that regulators will publish the rulebook by early 2027. By mid-2028, anyone touching US customers will either comply or exit. What “into banks” actually means GENIUS defines a protected category called “payment stablecoins” and restricts US distribution to coins issued by permitted issuers. Those issuers must be bank subsidiaries, federally licensed nonbanks supervised by the OCC, or state-qualified entities under tight federal oversight. Reserves must be held in cash, bank deposits, or T-bills, with no rehypothecation allowed. Disclosures submissions are made monthly, and issuers must be compliant with full prudential supervision, as well as BSA/AML compliance. The coins are pulled into a banking-style regulatory perimeter without being called banks. For the $304 billion stablecoin market, this creates a fork. US-touching liquidity migrates into bank-like wrappers, while everything else gets fenced off. Offshore issuers can exist globally, but US platforms will drop them to avoid liability. There is $300 billion at stake, split between entities that meet federal standards and those that do not. The rulemaking fight: yield, definitions, and scope Slaughter’s comment zeroes in on affiliate yield. GENIUS prohibits issuers from paying interest but says nothing about affiliates doing so. Paradigm argues that banning affiliate yield would violate the statute’s plain language. This matters because, if affiliates can pay competitive rates, users get high-yield savings accounts with instant settlement. That creates pressure on banks actually to return interest. If regulators block affiliate yield, stablecoins become worse than bank deposits, with a full compliance burden, but no upside. Other battlegrounds include the definition of the term “digital asset service provider” and whether DeFi protocols are exempt from statutory carve-outs, as well as what constitutes a “comparable regime” for foreign issuers. Regulators could implement GENIUS as written or twist it into bank protectionism that chokes anything not wearing a federal charter. Winners and losers Large US banks and quasi-bank stablecoin issuers emerge as winners. GENIUS creates the first clear federal pathway for regulated institutions to issue dollar tokens with preemption over state rules. Circle, Paxos, and PayPal rush to secure permitted issuer status. The expectation is that major banks will launch tokenized deposits and move directly onto public blockchains, rather than staying behind with ACH. The US dollar and Treasury market also win. GENIUS mandates one-to-one backing in T-bills, making every compliant stablecoin effectively a mini T-bill fund. If this scales into the trillions, it deepens global demand for US debt. Ethereum and layer-2 blockchains capture settlement infrastructure. US-regulated issuers overwhelmingly choose mature EVM environments. According to rwa.xyz, Ethereum, zkSync, and Polygon have the largest participations on the real-world asset (RWA) market, amounting to $15.7 billion (44%). Ethereum becomes the neutral rail for bank-grade dollar tokens, gaining fee flow and legitimacy as “regulated plumbing.” A large, compliant tier of DeFi builds on permitted stablecoins, coexisting with the permissionless global layer. On the other hand, offshore issuers lose US distribution. After mid-2028, US platforms will not be able to offer any “payment stablecoin” that is not issued by a permitted issuer. Tether and similar players can serve non-US customers but lose seamless integration with Coinbase, Kraken, or major US venues. Smaller or experimental issuers get crushed. Algorithmic stablecoins, undercollateralized experiments, and thinly capitalized startups either pivot into niche markets or shut down. As a result, DeFi faces a split. GENIUS exempts underlying protocols and self-custody, but rulemaking will define what counts as “offering” to US persons. If regulators stretch definitions, large parts of DeFi either filter to permitted-stablecoin-only pools for US traffic or drift into geofenced offshore silos. How flows reroute The first phase, from now to mid-2026, is characterized as a positioning period. Issuers and banks lobby over eligible reserves, foreign comparability, affiliate yield, and definitions. Draft rules circulate, and industry war-games compliance paths. The second phase, spanning 2026 and 2027, is when regulatory sorting takes place. Final rules are released, early approvals are granted to large, compliant entities, and names are revealed. US platforms migrate volume toward “soon-to-be permitted” coins, while noncompliant issuers file, geo-fence US users, or lean into offshore venues. The third phase, spanning from 2027 to 2028, is the hardening of routes. US-facing exchanges, brokers, and many DeFi front ends primarily list permitted stablecoins, with potential for deeper liquidity on Ethereum and layer-2 blockchains. Noncompliant stablecoins persist on offshore exchanges and gray-market DeFi but lose connectivity to fully regulated US rails. The expected result is a larger share of “crypto dollars” becoming fully reserved, supervised, KYC’d, and sitting inside or adjacent to bank balance sheets. On-chain settlement starts to look less like a pirate market and more like Fedwire with APIs. Stage Date / Window Key Action Lead Agencies & Milestones Passage (GENIUS Act becomes law) July 18, 2025 GENIUS Act (Public Law 119–27) signed. Establishes “permitted payment stablecoin issuer” regime, bans yield on payment stablecoins, sets 3-year distribution clock, and hardwires the effective date as the earlier of (i) 18 months after enactment or (ii) 120 days after final regs by primary regulators. Treasury + “primary Federal payment stablecoin regulators” (Fed, OCC, FDIC, NCUA) are formally tasked with building the rulebook (Section 13). ANPRM – Implementation Kickoff Sept 19, 2025 Treasury issues Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on GENIUS Act implementation. It asks detailed questions on issuer eligibility, reserves, foreign/comparable regimes, illicit finance, tax, insurance, and data—this is the opening shot in defining how strict or flexible GENIUS will be. Treasury leads docket TREAS-DO-2025-0037 and signals coordination with Fed, OCC, FDIC, NCUA, and state regulators. Those agencies begin internal workstreams (FSOC/FDIC/NCUA speeches flag GENIUS implementation as a priority). Proposed Rules (NPRMs) Expected 1H 2026 Next step: Treasury plus each primary regulator publish proposed rules (NPRMs) translating GENIUS into concrete requirements: licensing standards for PPSIs, capital/liquidity, reserve composition, examinations, foreign issuer “comparability,” and conditions for digital asset service providers. These must come early enough to finalize within the statutory one-year rulemaking window. Statute (Sec. 13) requires Treasury, Fed, OCC, FDIC, NCUA, and state regulators to “promulgate regulations” within 1 year of enactment → practical pressure to get NPRMs out in early 2026 so finals can land by July 18, 2026. This is the core battleground Justin Slaughter & others are pointing to. Final Rules Statutory deadline: by July 18, 2026 Final regulations by the “primary Federal payment stablecoin regulators” + Treasury lock in who can be a PPSI, how reserves work, supervision expectations, and how foreign and state regimes are recognized. These final rules also start the 120-day clock that can accelerate GENIUS’s effective date. Fed, OCC, FDIC, NCUA each finalize regs for issuers under their jurisdiction; Treasury finalizes cross-cutting rules (safe harbors, comparability, illicit finance). Collectively, these rules are what can start the effective-date countdown under Sec. 20. Earliest GENIUS Effective Date Earlier of: (a) Jan 18, 2027 (18 months after enactment), or (b) 120 days after final regs GENIUS framework (and amendments) “turn on” at whichever comes first. If regulators slip on final rules, the 18-month mark (Jan 18, 2027) becomes the default effective date. If they move fast and finalize early, the 120-day rule can pull the effective date forward. Practically: this is the pivot point your article should highlight—when stablecoin issuance and U.S.-facing distribution must begin lining up with PPSI rules, and when markets start rerouting toward bank-like, GENIUS-compliant What it means for Bitcoin and Ethereum For Bitcoin, GENIUS is a narrative tailwind. As stablecoins become more bank-like and subject to regulation by US authorities, Bitcoin stands out as the censorship-resistant asset that remains outside this perimeter. Short-term liquidity is fine, as permitted stablecoins will be everywhere US-regulated BTC venues are. If noncompliant stablecoins shrink, some high-friction flows will pivot to BTC pairs. In the long term, GENIUS domesticates the dollar side of crypto, making Bitcoin the cleanest way to step outside the new perimeter. For Ethereum, GENIUS potentially brings a new level of scale if things remain as they are today. Permitted issuers prefer EVM chains with mature infrastructure and deep DeFi capabilities. That is structurally supportive of ETH as gas and settlement infrastructure for regulated stablecoin payments and tokenized assets. As a result, a two-tiered DeFi ecosystem might emerge. One tier consists of permissioned, GENIUS-compliant pools with institutional capital, and permissionless global pools hosting any coin. Censorship risk exists in this tier, but that increases the value of credible neutrality at the protocol level. The other tier is formed by bank-grade, trillion-scale dollar tokens settling on Ethereum, making blockspace a valuable infrastructure. The fight is over the rules. Treasury, the Fed, and the OCC write them between now and mid-2026. By 2027, the market learns what GENIUS actually built. By 2028, capital will flow into banks, onto Ethereum, or offshore. The post The GENIUS Act’s $250M battle begins now: Bitcoin stands as the last bastion against censorship appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Vitalik Buterin hails a new milestone in Ethereum's rise
Summarize this article with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok Ethereum has just reached a spectacular milestone in scalability. On November 4, 2025, the network recorded a record throughput of 3,453 transactions per second, shattering its usual performance. Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of the blockchain, was quick to praise this major advance. But does this technical feat finally signal the end of the congestion problems that have long hampered the network? Read us on Google News En bref Ethereum reached an all-time high of 3,453 transactions per second on November 4, 2025, at 2:37 p.m. UTC. Vitalik Buterin immediately took to social media to congratulate this breakthrough in scalability. Layer 2 solutions such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base are playing a key role in this surge. PeerDAS technology, identified by Buterin as “crucial,” is expected to further amplify these capabilities in the coming months. Ethereum breaks a historic speed record with 3,453 TPS On November 4, 2025, at 14:37 UTC, Ethereum shattered its speed ceiling by reaching 3,453 transactions per second. A figure that is dizzying when you know that Ethereum’s layer 1 usually processes between 15 and 30 TPS under normal conditions. Vitalik Buterin was quick to react, posting a terse but eloquent message: “Ethereum levels up.” This performance is no accident. It results from years of effort to address Ethereum’s main Achilles’ heel: network congestion during high demand periods. Layer 2 solutions, notably Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and zkSync, now play a central role in this scaling. By offloading a massive part of transactions from the main blockchain, these protocols allow the combined Ethereum ecosystem to process thousands of operations simultaneously. This record comes at a strategic moment. Financial institutions, companies, and even some states are closely watching blockchain technical capabilities before considering their mass adoption. Ethereum thus demonstrates that it can compete with traditional payment systems in terms of speed while preserving the benefits of decentralization. PeerDAS, the secret weapon to go even further Buterin does not intend to stop here. The Ethereum co-founder recently identified PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling) as “the missing link” to propel the network to new heights. This technology, integrated into the Fusaka upgrade scheduled for December 2025, revolutionizes how nodes manage data. Specifically, PeerDAS allows validators to verify the existence of a block without downloading the entire information. They use data samples which they reconstruct using erasure coding. Result: storage load drastically decreases for each node, which increases the overall capacity of the network without sacrificing decentralization. Buterin also praised zkSync Atlas, which he considers “underestimated and valuable,” while reaffirming that “incorruptibility” remains the fundamental property of a robust blockchain. These statements testify to a coherent vision: building a system capable of absorbing exponential demand while staying true to the principles of neutrality and resilience that founded Ethereum. ETHUSDT chart by TradingView A global ambition that is finally materializing This TPS record is not just a figure to celebrate. It represents concrete validation of Ethereum’s strategy against its competitors. While other blockchains prioritize raw speed at the expense of decentralization, Ethereum proves it is possible to combine performance and principles. The network’s ambitious roadmap, with the Pectra, Fusaka, and Glamsterdam upgrades, outlines the shape of an infrastructure capable of supporting tomorrow’s global finance. Banks, investment funds and states considering asset tokenization or stablecoin issuance now have a credible technical platform. Ethereum no longer just promises: it demonstrates.
Mevolaxy Launches Mobile App and Announces Record Payouts
November 4th, 2025 – Los Angeles, USA class=”ql-align-justify”> Mevolaxy , a US-based mevstake platform, has released an intuitive mobile app to provide an easy solution for users who prefer managing their assets on the go. Additionally, the company announced that the latest investor payouts have set another record after the one set in June. These two developments highlight Mevolaxy’s commitment to providing maximum user convenience as part of its community-centric approach. Mevolaxy specializes in developing MEV bots and subsequently using them within the Mevstake system. Mevstake is the platform’s proprietary technology that locks in the user’s staking terms for the whole duration of their deposit. It can help users to better navigate market volatility and network changes. The Mevstake system allows users to contribute funds to a network-wide bot liquidity pool and receive a share of the potential profits. This makes tools previously available only to major traders accessible to a broad audience. The recent launch of the Mevolaxy mobile app means users can now access mevstake easily, even when away from their computers. The application is now available on the App Store. Early users already praised its speed, intuitive interface, and modern design. The app allows tracking accruals and statistics in real time, making interaction with the platform even more convenient. Mevolaxy also announced the latest investor payouts, totaling approximately $3.6 million. This figure represents a new record for the company, surpassing the $3 million in payouts set in June 2025. Company representatives noted that the growing payouts are a testament to the sustainability of their model and the trust of their users. About Mevolaxy Mevolaxy is a fintech company that seeks to expose users to blockchain-based earnings through advanced MEV strategies. The platform’s flagship product, the mevstake technology, aims to break down barriers and make MEV accessible to all users, regardless of their experience with cryptocurrencies. The Mevolaxy team consists of blockchain infrastructure developers, financial analysts, cybersecurity engineers, DeFi specialists, marketers, and product managers. The company’s engineers have many years of experience working with high-load systems and advanced blockchain technologies from Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, zkSync, and other networks. Users can use the Mevolaxy app to access advanced staking tools securely and without complicated settings or hidden fees. More about Mevolaxy here .
Ethereum: The Fusaka Update Scheduled for December 3
Summarize this article with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok For several months, Ethereum has not been moving quietly: it is sprinting. After the Dencun blobs, the promises of Pectra, here comes Fusaka to shake things up. And the timing is not coincidental. In an increasingly competitive blockchain ecosystem where Solana, Celestia, and zkSync are moving their pieces, Ethereum no longer has the luxury of slowness. Stay number one or suffer silent relegation? Fusaka, scheduled for December 3, could provide a clear answer. Read us on Google News In Brief Fusaka will be activated on December 3 after validated tests on three separate testnets. PeerDAS will allow validators to sample data faster and at a lower cost. The gas limit will increase from 30 to 150 million, amplifying network processing power. Two blob doubling stages are planned on December 9 and January 7. PeerDAS: Ethereum’s Secret Weapon to Master Layer 2s Engineers have been awaiting it since February, testnets approved it in October, and Vitalik Buterin talks about it as a revolution. PeerDAS (EIP-7594), a central element of the Fusaka update, will transform how Ethereum manages data on its layer 2s. Specifically, PeerDAS introduces a more efficient data sampling mechanism, allowing validators to read only a fraction of the blob data temporarily stored on the main layer. The result: a lighter network, near-zero fees, and a speed that recalls the forgotten promises of web3. During the latest All Core Devs call , Alex Stokes, lead developer, stated that “the people I’ve talked to in the community are very enthusiastic… It’s really something very important.” Initially scheduled for the Pectra upgrade, PeerDAS was postponed to avoid false starts. Fusaka will therefore benefit from several months of audits and tests on the Holesky, Sepolia, and Hoodi testnets. A cautious but necessary strategy: PeerDAS is now seen as the keystone of Ethereum’s scalability. Scalability, Security, and Growth: What Fusaka Really Changes for the Blockchain Fusaka is not limited to PeerDAS. It consists of a dozen proposals (EIPs) voted to take Ethereum to the next level. Among them, one in particular is likely to make noise: the increase of the gas limit from 30 to 150 million per block. This measure will considerably expand the network’s processing capacity while preparing the ground for a future increase in the number of blobs. Just after December 3, two other technical milestones are set: December 9 and January 7, where the number of blobs allowed per block will double in stages. All this while ensuring full backward compatibility of the network. Pressure is also mounting on the markets. With ETH at 3,837 dollars at the time of writing, traders oscillate between caution and excitement. On Myriad, forecasts lean 61% towards crossing 4,500 dollars, against 39% for a drop below 3,100. The Fusaka effect? Maybe. The previous Pectra saw ETH jump by 29%. What to Remember in Numbers and Facts Key date: Fusaka will be deployed on the Ethereum mainnet on December 3, 2025; Flagship mechanism: PeerDAS will enable validating layer 2 data by sampling only a small portion of the blobs; Blob boost: Two blob number extensions are planned for December 9 and January 7; Gas Limit x5: Increasing to 150 million gas units marks a historic leap for the chain; ETH price : Currently at $3,837, with moderate bullish expectations in the short term. Upon closer examination, Fusaka is not just a chapter, it is a strategic turning point. Along with Pectra before it, it forms a diptych that could rewrite Ethereum’s fate . By strengthening scalability, smoothing access to layer 2s, and maintaining its technological lead, the original blockchain offers itself a rejuvenation. Time will tell if that will be enough to save it from the Kodak syndrome in the web3 era.
Will Fusaka keep users on L2? Upcoming Ethereum upgrade eyes up to 60% fee cuts
The next major Ethereum upgrade, called Fusaka, a hybrid of “Fulu” (consensus) and “Osaka” (execution), will modify how the network handles data and fees without altering the primary user experience. Beneath the surface, it’s a statement of direction: Ethereum’s main chain is staying the final settlement and data-availability hub, while everyday activity continues to flow outward onto cheaper, faster rollups. The open question, which is whether Fusaka will bring users back to Layer 1, already has its answer. It won’t. It will make Layer 2 even harder to leave. Inside Fusaka: scaling the plumbing, smoothing the ride The technical backbone of Fusaka centers on data availability, sampling, and blob management, which is Ethereum’s approach to making Layer 2 posting cheaper and more efficient. The headline proposal, EIP-7594 (PeerDAS), lets nodes sample only fragments of rollup data, called “blobs”, instead of downloading everything. That unlocks higher blob capacity and drastically lowers bandwidth costs for validators, a prerequisite for scaling L2 throughput. Then comes EIP-7892, introducing “Blob Parameter-Only” forks, or BPOs, a mechanism to gradually increase the number of blobs per block (for instance, from 10 to 14, or 15 to 21) without rewriting the protocol. This effectively lets developers tune Ethereum’s data capacity without waiting for complete upgrades. EIP-7918 sets a base-fee floor for blobs, ensuring the auction price for data space doesn’t collapse to near zero during low demand. The rest of the bundle focuses on user experience and safety. EIP-7951 adds support for secp256r1, the cryptographic curve used in WebAuthn, making passkey logins possible across Ethereum wallets. EIP-7917 introduces deterministic proposer look-ahead, a small but significant change that helps pre-confirmation systems predict who will produce the next block, enabling faster transaction assurance. Meanwhile, EIP-7825 caps transaction gas to prevent denial-of-service risks, and EIP-7935 adjusts default block gas targets to maintain validator stability. These upgrades are already live on testnets like Holesky and Sepolia, with a mainnet activation expected in early December. Why Fusaka matters for fees and the rollup economy For users, Fusaka doesn’t promise cheaper Layer 1 gas. It’s built to lower Layer 2 fees. By allowing rollups to post more data at lower cost, the upgrade improves the economics for networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and zkSync. Internal modeling suggests that rollup fees could fall between 15% and 40% under typical conditions, possibly even up to 60% if blob supply outpaces demand for an extended period. On the Ethereum mainnet, gas prices may remain roughly flat, although future adjustments to block gas targets could reduce them by another 10-20%. The passkey and proposer updates, however, could make a difference in how Ethereum feels to use. With WebAuthn support, wallets can integrate biometric or device-based logins, removing the friction of seed phrases and passwords. With pre-confirmations enabled by predictable proposer schedules, users can expect near-instant confirmations for routine transactions, especially on rollups. The net result is that Ethereum becomes smoother to use without pulling anyone back to L1. The rails get faster, but they’re still pointed toward the rollup lane. L1 as settlement, L2 as experience Ethereum’s architecture is no longer a debate between monolithic and modular design: it’s modular by choice. Layer 1’s purpose is to serve as the high-security settlement and data availability base, while actual user activity is moved to Layer 2. Fusaka reinforces this split. When blob capacity increases, L2s can handle higher throughput for games, social apps, and micro-transactions that would be uneconomical on mainnet. The improvements to login and confirmation workflows make these L2 environments feel native and instantaneous, erasing much of the UX gap that once favored L1. Where might users still choose Layer 1? In narrow cases, it involves high-value settlements, institution-scale transfers, or situations where block-ordering precision is crucial, such as miner extractable value (MEV) management or DeFi clearing. But those scenarios represent a small fraction of total on-chain activity. For the rest, L2 remains the natural home. The bigger narrative: Ethereum as a layered internet Viewed from above, Fusaka is less about gas optimization and more about maturity. It gives Ethereum a scalable framework for adjusting data capacity (BPOs) without disruptive forks, and a UX layer that makes Web3 feel more like Web2. Yet its philosophy is clear: the network isn’t trying to centralize traffic on mainnet. It’s building an expressway system where rollups handle local traffic, and L1 serves as the courthouse where everything eventually gets notarized. There’s also a monetary layer to the story. Cheaper data posting could drive a wave of new low-value applications, like social, payments, and gaming, back into rollups. Each of these still consumes ETH through blob fees, and with EIP-7918’s fee floor, those fees contribute to ETH burn. Ethereum’s burn rate could even tick higher if activity expands faster than fees decline, despite cheaper user costs. On the validator side, PeerDAS lightens the load on bandwidth but may create a new reliance on “supernodes” that store full blob data. That’s a decentralization trade-off the community will continue to debate: how to scale data availability without narrowing participation. The balance Ethereum is striking here, between throughput, usability, and trust, mirrors the broader direction of crypto infrastructure. L1s are hardening into secure bases, while L2s absorb experimentation and scale. The takeaway Fusaka isn’t a bid to reclaim the spotlight for the Ethereum mainnet. It’s the opposite: a deliberate move to strengthen the foundations for a rollup-centric future. The upgrade expands data capacity, stabilizes fees, and modernizes wallet experience, but it does so in service of the layers above. Ethereum’s L1 becomes safer and smarter, while users continue to live on L2s that now run cheaper and faster than before. By the time BPO1 and BPO2 roll out early next year, the real signals to watch will be blob utilization versus capacity, L2 fee compression, and wallet adoption of passkeys. The outcome will define how frictionless Ethereum feels in 2026, not by pulling people back to the main chain, but by making the off-ramps almost invisible. The post Will Fusaka keep users on L2? Upcoming Ethereum upgrade eyes up to 60% fee cuts appeared first on CryptoSlate.
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