EDITOR'S NOTE: CoinDesk has made the decision to pause Protocol Village following the departure this week of founding editor Bradley Keoun. Project teams are welcome to pitch stories to Deputy Editor-in-Chief Marc Hochstein ([email protected]), who will also be taking over as lead author of The Protocol, our weekly newsletter exploring the tech behind crypto, which is continuing. Please sign up here to get it in your inbox every Wednesday.

In today's issue: Pulse, Arweave, bitsCrunch, Animoca Brands, Mocaverse, Privately SA, Privado ID, QuickNode, STXN, Zero Gravity Labs, Outlier Ventures, Singularity Finance.

Wednesday, Nov. 13

Pulse, Web3 Health Tech Startup, Closes $1.8M Pre-Seed Round

Pulse, a Web3 health tech startup reshaping how people manage and benefit from their health data, has closed its $1.8 million pre-seed round, co-led by Collab+Currency and Lemniscap. According to the team: "Pulse’s digital twin technology aggregates data from wearables, electronic health records and diagnostics into a comprehensive, unified health profile. Using privacy-first technology, Pulse empowers users to securely share this data with trusted partners, such as researchers or healthcare providers, on their terms — unlocking actionable health insights that improve wellness and drive medical research forward."

Arweave, Blockchain-Based Permanent Storage Network, Releases '2.8' Upgrade With 'Composite Packing'

PROTOCOL VILLAGE EXCLUSIVE: Arweave, the permanent storage network, is releasing its 2.8 protocol upgrade, introducing a new packing format that enhances network efficiency, scalability, and energy efficiency. Technical highlights of Arweave 2.8 include:

• Allowing miners to leverage slower storage devices while maintaining network performance, significantly reducing the hardware requirements for node operators.
• Further strengthening the network’s security by implementing enhanced ASIC resistance measures.
• Optimizations to the blockchain syncing process, reducing the time required to sync a full node.

Animoca Announces $10M Funding Tranche for Web3 Consumer Platform Mocaverse

Animoca Brands, a Web3 investment conglomerate, has announced an additional funding tranche of $10 million for Mocaverse, following previous investments totaling $31.88 million announced last year, "to build out the interoperable infrastructure tech stack for consumer crypto adoption with large user base ecosystems," according to the team: "The investment comes with a free-attaching warrant for the MOCA Coin utility token at an implied fully diluted value (FDV) of $1 billion, in a structure that mirrors the two tranches announced previously." Mocaverse is described as "Animoca Brands’ marquee consumer platform that enables users to maximize their Web3 experiences and rewards with a single login entry point."

BitsCrunch, AI-Enabled Blockchain Data Network, Announces Full Indexing of L2 Linea Blocks

BitsCrunch, an AI-enabled decentralized blockchain data network, announced the full indexing of all Linea blocks, providing extensive analytics and forensic services like NFT price estimation and IP infringement detection, tailored for NFT projects, marketplaces, gaming initiatives and brands within the Linea ecosystem. According to the team, "bitsCrunch’s AI-powered tools can be used by regulators, CEXs, gaming developers, DeFi projects and Web3 users – addressing various data analytics, security, and validation needs across different apps, aggregating data from multiple blockchains and NFT marketplaces." [EDITOR'S NOTE: Please see our story just out, Ethereum Developer Consensys Plots Token Issuance in Sign of Trump Thaw, re the planned release by Linea developer Consensys of a forthcoming LINEA token.]

Privately SA, Privado ID Strike Partnership for 'Privacy-First Device-Based Age Verification Solution'

Privately SA and Privado ID (formerly Polygon ID) announced a partnership to create a "privacy-first, device-based age verification solution." According to the team: "With regulatory demands rising in industries like social media, adult conten, and streaming the collaboration enables users to verify their age on-device without sharing personal data. This offers secure, reusable age verification, aligning with European privacy standards. Enabling compliant, privacy-preserving age verification for industries facing strict regulations."

Ethereum Pioneer's New 'Time Machine' Makes Transactions Conditional on Future Events

Ethereum is getting a new dimension: time. Smart Transactions (STXN), a new project from Vlad Zamfir, who pioneered Ethereum's proof-of-stake blockchain system, released on Wednesday a platform that will enable applications to execute transactions based on future events. The new platform, called the “Ethereum time machine,” extends the blockchain's programming capabilities by allowing smart contracts to execute transactions based on uncertain or not-guaranteed future events. “For example, a user could stipulate that a trade execute at a specified day and time conditional on a set of prerequisites,” the STXN team wrote in a press release shared with CoinDesk. “These prerequisites could be absolute, such as the dollar value of a particular asset, or relative – for instance, whether one asset is worth more than another. The potential permutations are almost unlimited, greatly increasing the dynamism of the largest blockchain for developers.”

DODO, Decentralized Trading Protocol, Releases Toolkit to Simplify Creation of DEXs

DODO, a decentralized trading protocol for Web3, announced the release of DODO DEXpert - a toolkit designed to simplify the creation and management of DEXs in the DeFi sector. According to the team: "This suite includes solutions such as automated market-making models, a meme token launch platform and a DEX aggregator that provides competitive prices across multiple exchanges. Key features of DODO DEXpert include the Proactive Market Maker model, which enhances capital efficiency for liquidity providers, and tools for token creation and liquidity migration in the meme economy."

QuickNode Launches Rollups-as-a-Service With 'One-Click Deployment'

Blockchain infrastructure project QuickNode has launched Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS) with support for over 20 layer-2 networks – "more than any other RaaS platform," according to the team: "QuickNode, which handles over 300 billion blockchain API requests monthly, is setting a new standard for enterprise-grade rollup solutions with one-click deployment and industry-leading security and scalability. QuickNode users can deploy and manage custom L2 and L3 rollups using leading frameworks such as Optimism’s OP Stack and Arbitrum Orbit by Offchain Labs."

MyBlue, Fan Engagement Platform by Team Liquid, to be Built on Sui

MyBlue, a fan engagement platform by Team Liquid, will be built on Sui, expanding its partnership with Mysten Labs, the original contributor to Sui and a blockchain infrastructure company, according to the team: "Fans will receive a customizable, soulbound avatar of Blue, Team Liquid’s mascot, complete with digital items stored on Sui, allowing users full ownership of their fan journey. Users create their MyBlue account through Mysten Labs' zkLogin, which enables simplified access to blockchain apps on Sui via signing in with familiar web credentials, like Google and Twitch."

Zero Gravity Labs Raises $40M for Decentralized AI Operating System

Zero Gravity Labs (0GL) said it raised $40 million in seed funding from a number of heavyweight crypto investors to develop a decentralized AI operating system, dAIOS, following a $35 million pre-seed round in March. dAIOS is designed to offer a decentralized environment for massive datasets to power AI computation. The seed round included contributions from Hack VC, Delphi Digital, OKX Ventures, Polygon and its founder Sandeep Nailwal, and Animoca Brands and its founder Yat Siu, among others, according to an emailed announcement. 0GL said it also secured a $250 million "token purchase commitment" that will allow it to draw on liquid digital assets held on exchanges to further support project development.

Outlier Ventures Partners With Singularity Finance on Real World Assets Base Camp Accelerator

Outlier Ventures, a leader in Web3 accelerator programs, announced a strategic partnership with Singularity Finance on its Real World Assets (RWA) Base Camp accelerator. According to the team: "Building off the success of our first program, this program will guide and support startups building infrastructure, applications and products designed to bring tokenized real-world assets into the mainstream. The program aims to foster innovation in tokenized real-world assets by offering selected startups access to mentorship from industry experts, cutting-edge workshops and business development resources."

Wanchain Launches EEA-Compliant Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocol XPort

Wanchainhas announced the launch of XPort, an EEA-compliant cross-chain data transfer protocol designed to transfer data between blockchains. According to the team: "The protocol will enable developers to build complex and innovative applications, and already has several early adopters, such as Bitrock and ZooGames. XPort uses off-chain relayers and lightweight smart contracts to divide risk and prioritise security. Temujin Louie, CEO of Wanchain, explained: 'XPort strengthens our ability to bridge gaps in cross-chain communication in a way that serves developers and projects of all sizes.'"

Blockchain Analyzer 'Bubblemaps' Adds AI to Help Identify Insider-Controlled Tokens

A revamped version of Bubblemaps, a blockchain analytics and visualization app, aims to help cryptocurrency's plebs identify the whales, using AI and other new features. Bubblemaps displays the top holders of crypto tokens as nodes in a graph—“bubbles” whose size corresponded to ownership stakes. The platform analyzes transaction histories to find links between wallets, forming “clusters” that approximate individual entities.

Protocol Village is a regular feature of The Protocol, our weekly newsletter exploring the tech behind crypto, one block at a time. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Wednesday. For previous versions of Protocol Village, please go here.

Tuesday, Nov. 12

Blockchain-Focused Investment Firm Spirit Acquires Dogecoin Development Project Led by Ankr's Chandler Song

Spirit Blockchain Capital, a blockchain-focused investment firm, has announced the acquisition of Dogecoin Portfolio Holding Corp., helmed by Chandler Song, CEO of Ankr and Strategic Advisor for Spirit Blockchain Capital, with an approach to that of MicroStrategy aimed at enhancing Dogecoin infrastructure and encouraging innovation among developers. This move provides incentives and advanced tools for Dogecoin developers to create secure applications on the network. Chandler commented on the importance of tokenization in revolutionizing technology by offering applications accessible to developers and users. The press release states: "Under the terms of the agreement, Spirit will acquire all of the issued and outstanding securities of Dogecoin Holdings, including common shares and share purchase warrants, from the Company’s shareholders (the “Vendors”). In exchange, Spirit will issue 14,000,000 common shares and 14,000,000 share purchase warrants, with each warrant exercisable at $0.05 per share for a period of 24 months from the closing. This strategic acquisition is structured to facilitate Spirit’s integration with Dogecoin Holdings’ assets and operations, creating long-term value for shareholders of both companies."

ZettaBlock Unveils AI Platform to 'Unlock Non-Public Data for AI Builders'

ZettaBlock, describing itself as a "unified platform for trustfree and open AI development," unveiled a new AI platform, Kite AI, that "unlocks non-public data for AI builders, ensuring fair compensation for data contributors," according to the team: "After two years of refining blockchain data pipelines, ZettaBlock now supports organizations like AWS, NEAR, Sui, Eigen Layer and Crypto.com. The platform enables secure, privacy-preserving access to tens of terabytes of data, allowing contributors to be rewarded for their impact. ZettaBlock will showcase this technology at Devcon, highlighting its approach to data attribution and collaboration for AI model development."

Assisterr Develops Decentralized Ecosystem Where Communities Own Their AI Models

Assisterr, a network of small language models (SLMs) developed by a team of Ukrainian Cambridge graduates, has developed a decentralized AI ecosystem where communities can own, manage and improve their AI models while participating in governance and reward systems through blockchain technology, according to the team: "On Tuesday, the company is launching a product with 500,000 registered users and one of the space's fastest-growing communities of AI creators."

COTI, Blockchain Project Powered by Garbled Circuits, Launches Cross-Chain Privacy Protocol

COTI, developer of a privacy-centric Ethereum layer-2 network, has launched a cross-chain privacy protocol "offering on-demand privacy for enterprises and dApps across 70 blockchains," according to the team: "Garbled Circuits, COTI’s advanced privacy layer, now enables developers to integrate enterprise-grade, on-demand privacy directly from their native chains. Following a successful proof of concept and its first cross-chain transaction powered by Axelar, COTI plans to integrate Axelar’s Amplifier technology to enable seamless cross-chain privacy across its connected networks, addressing the need for balance between transparency and privacy in dApps."

ZkVerify, Modular Blockchain for ZK Proof Verification, Integrates With Space and Time

ZkVerify, a modular blockchain for ZK proof verification, has integrated with Space and Time, introducing a decentralized SQL verifier for Space and Time’s Proof of SQL on their newly launched SXT Chain. According to the team: "By leveraging zkVerify’s verification of SXT proofs, organizations can verify their ZK-proven SQL queries faster and more efficiently compared to Ethereum verification. zkVerify functions as a decentralized proof verifier within this system for Space and Time’s Proof of SQL, offering fast, on-chain confirmation of query accuracy without relying on any central authority."

Crypto Anti-Money Laundering Specialist Notabene Raises $14.5M

Notabene, a startup that helps cryptocurrency trading firms comply with anti-money laundering (AML) rules, has raised $14.5 million Series B funding led by DRW Venture Capital, with participation from funds managed by Apollo, Nextblock, ParaFi Capital, and Wintermute. Aiming to be a kind of SWIFT for crypto transactions, Notabene’s network effect is growing with 165 companies using the platform, including some of the largest virtual asset service providers (VASPs) globally such as Copper, OKX, and Ramp.

Decentralized AI Startup Eidon, Led by Former DeepMind Researcher Peter Toth, Raises $3.5M

Eidon AI, a decentralized AI startup founded by former DeepMind AI researcher and Web3 entrepreneur Peter Toth, alongside Google Cloud Web3 founding team member Sam Padilla, disclosed a $3.5 million seed round led by Framework Ventures, with participation from cyber·Fund. According to the team: "This funding has allowed Eidon to launch the first version of its network, live as of today, which includes an AI agent system for data assessment, an open sequencer, and the first data-collection apps."

Tezos L2 Etherlink Activates Bifröst Network Upgrade With Enhanced Token Bridging

Etherlink, a Tezos layer-2 solution, disclosed that the The Bifröst network upgrade has been activated, enhancing token bridging and transaction performance. Core Etherlink contributors described what the upgrade would bring to the ecosystem during a session on X. According to a post, the Bifröst brings expanded functionality and improved performance on Etherlink Mainnet, including:

• Extended FA 2.1 token bridge: Allows deposits and withdrawals of arbitrary FA 2.1 tokens, offering backward compatibility with previous FA standards.
• Improved internal transaction indexing: Enhances Etherlink’s integration with tools like Blockscout for better transaction indexing.
• Performance enhancements: Reduces latency on computation-heavy RPCs, optimizing network efficiency.

Lisk, Ethereum L2 Project, Announces Mainnet Launch, Airdrop Campaign

Lisk, an Ethereum layer-2 project based on Optimism's OP Stack and dedicated to empowering Web3 builders in high-growth markets, announced the launch of Lisk Mainnet and the introduction of its Airdrop campaign, beginning on Nov. 21. According to the team: "This will be followed by an App Bounty Quest campaign launching by the end of the year. The first season of the airdrop will run for four months, incentivizing new users and builders to engage with Lisk’s blockchain ecosystem. In alignment with this effort, Lisk is implementing a comprehensive plan reflecting its past year's progress through strategic partnerships and various programs.

Quai, Layer-1 Chain Focused on 'Energy Dollar,' Hires Wolfram Research Founder

Quai Network, a scalable Layer-1 blockchain, announces Stephen Wolfram, physicist and founder of Wolfram Research, as its new advisor. Wolfram’s expertise in computation and physics will enhance Quai’s thermoeconomic energy dollar and scalability solutions. According to the team: "This partnership marks a major step in merging decentralized tech with advanced scientific principles, following Quai’s $5 million funding and Devnet launch. Wolfram’s insights will help Quai set new standards in blockchain performance and energy efficiency." According to a press release, Wolfram is creator of Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha, and the Wolfram Language; he originated the Wolfram Physics Project and has authored A New Kind of Science along with several other books.

SSV Network DAO Partners With Sigma Prime to Launch Second Validator Client

As Ethereum tackles centralization risks and major protocols move toward distributed validation, SSV Network DAO — the organization of holders of SSV tokens driving the project's ownership and governance decentralization — has partnered with Sigma Prime to launch a second validator client while also supporting Commit-Boost for enhanced validator capabilities, specifically, validator commitments, according to the team: "Granted by the SSV DAO, these developments will further decentralize validators and how they build blocks in an open and flexible way. In preparation for post-Pectra, SSV plans to deliver essential upgrades in the upcoming Alan Fork, scheduled for Nov. 25." SSV Network is a project for distributed validator technology, or DVT, which an "open and simple infrastructure for splitting and distributing a validator key into multiple KeyShares, for the purpose of running an Ethereum validator across multiple non-trusting nodes," according to the project documentation.

Ethereum Layer-2 Project Starknet to Roll Out Staking Feature Later This Month

Starknet, a prominent Ethereum layer-2 project, said Tuesday that it will bring staking to its main network on Nov. 26. StarkWare, the main developer firm behind Starknet, had shared in July that it would introduce a proposal for staking on the blockchain, but had not previously fixed the date of the rollout. According to the team, anyone will be able to participate in staking on the blockchain. Validators will require a minimum of 20,000 STRK tokens ($9,610) to operate their nodes. Delegators must hold STRK tokens and will be able to choose a validator to delegate their stakes to. The team also shared on X that “validators and delegators will be subject to a 21-day unstaking lockup period.”

Monday, Nov. 11

Avara, Parent of Aave and Lens, Launches Family Wallet With In-App Messaging

Avara, the parent company behind Aave Labs and Lens, has launched Family Wallet, describing it as "a secure, user-friendly crypto wallet for everyone," according to the team: "It offers features like in-app messaging, NFT support, DeFi integration and advanced security." The release comes roughly a year after Aave Companies bought Los Feliz Engineering, the development team behind Family, and rebranded as Avara.

Akave, New Data-Storage Chain on Filecoin, Secures $3.45 Million in Pre-Seed Funding

PROTOCOL VILLAGE EXCLUSIVE: Akave, a data storage chain on Filecoin, has secured $3.45 million in pre-seed funding from Protocol Labs, Blockchange VC, Lightshift and Blockchain Builders Fund, "to advance decentralized data lakes, empowering enterprises, AI companies and DePIN builders with tools to move beyond the cloud, enabling on-chain data lakes to manage large datasets," according to the team: "Akave’s architecture ensures secure, transparent and efficient approach to data exchange. Akave’s Yucca Testnet, now open to early testers, enables exploration of on-chain data management."

Stablecoin Issuer Tether Launches Open-Source Wallet Development Kit, 'WDK by Tether'

Tether, issuer of the world's most popular stablecoin, USDT, has "launched its WDK Wallet Development Kit by Tether, an open-source, modular software development kit designed to empower businesses and developers to seamlessly integrate non-custodial wallets and user experiences for USDT and bitcoin in any app, website and device," according to the team: "WDK by Tether offers a fully self-custodial toolkit that enables developers to build advanced mobile, desktop and web wallet experiences. Designed to support both human users and embrace new digital beings like AI agents, robots and autonomous systems. WDK by Tether is built to withstand even the most challenging scenarios." Key features include:

NEAR Foundation Launches Alpha Version of 'User-Owned AI'

NEAR Foundation has launched Alpha for User-Owned AI with NEAR AI Assistant and Research Hub, according to the team: "The AI Assistant provides users with a personalized, user-owned AI, capable of Web2 and Web3 interactions, from blockchain transactions to e-commerce. The hub fosters community-driven AI, enabling monetizable research. Additionally, NEAR Intents — a new blockchain transaction type — allow actions and data to flow seamlessly between AI agents and services. This positions NEAR Protocol as a leader in user-centric AI innovation, advancing privacy-preserving, user-owned AI on blockchain."

LAK3, Layer-2 Blockchain Project on Polygon for Selling and Investing in Water, Raises $12.4M

LAKE (LAK3), a layer-2 blockchain on Polygon designed to facilitate the buying, selling and investing in water resources via an RWA project, announced that it has secured $12.4 million in funding, with $3 million from a private sale and $9.4 million in an ongoing presale round, "to expand globally and launch the LAK3 token." According to the team: "Key partnerships with Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and premium water sources like Sembrancher (Switzerland) and Zilia (Corsica) integrate real-world water sources into the Web3 space. This funding supports scaling operations, expanding the supply chain network, and turning passive consumers into active stakeholders in the water economy through blockchain technology."

Brevis, Project for Verifiable Off-Chain Computation Powered by ZK Proofs, Raises $7.5M in Seed Funding

Brevis, describing itself as an efficient, verifiable off-chain computation engine powered by zero-knowledge proofs,has raised $7.5 million in seed funding, led by Polychain Capital and Binance Labs, with backing from Bankless Ventures, and Hashkey, "to bring infinite scalability to existing blockchains without liquidity or state fragmentation," according to the team. "The platform enables offloading complex and expensive computations off-chain, generating zero-knowledge proofs that are verified on-chain, preserving security and reducing costs. With the funding, Brevis aims to expand its R&D, build decentralized prover networks and drive adoption of its ZK Data Coprocessor."

SingularityNET to Split HyperCycle Development Into Two Paths of Fully Open-Source, Hybrid With Closed-Source Elements

SingularityNET CEO Ben Goertzel announced at Devcon that HyperCycle is expanding its decentralized AI network by forking into two parallel development paths. The fork will also involve airdropping tokens to HyPC holders and vested investors, further expanding network growth. According to the team: H.M (MettaCycle) will focus entirely on open-source development, emphasizing full transparency and decentralization. H.H (HyperCycle) will maintain a hybrid approach, integrating both open and closed-source elements, and aims to collaborate with both centralized and decentralized entities.

Pharos Closes $8 Million Seed Round Led By Lightspeed Faction and Hack VC

Pharos, a full-stack, parallel layer-1 blockchain, announced the completion of an $8 million seed round investment co-led by Lightspeed Faction ("Faction") and Hack VC, with additional participation from strategic anchor investor SNZ Capital and other investors including Reforge, Dispersion Capital, Hash Global, Generative Ventures, Legend Star, MH Ventures, Zion and Chorus One Ventures. According to the team: "The company plans to utilize the funding to accelerate the development of the Pharos protocol and drive the growth of the ecosystem and community. The company will maintain its vision of driving mass adoption through efficient blockchain technology implementation into the verticals of decentralized finance, real world assets, and more."

Storacha, Decentralized Storage Solution Built With Filecoin, Launches Closed Alpha Network

Storacha, a high-performance decentralized storage solution built with Filecoin, launched its closed alpha network tailored for gaming, AI and DePIN networks, according to the team: "Delivering Amazon S3 speed and accessibility, Storacha’s network showcases the expertise of IPFS and Filecoin community veterans and leverages a new storage proof for fast data retrieval, set to release in November. The network gives users enhanced control over who can access their data, reinforcing Storacha’s commitment to user empowerment and data sovereignty."

Polygon AggLayer Integrates Agora Finance's AUSD as Native Stablecoin

Polygon's AggLayer, a cross-chain settlement solution, is integrating Agora Finance's AUSD as its native stablecoin, "enabling seamless value transfer across all participating networks," according to the team: "The integration brings institutional-grade stability, with State Street as cash custodian and VanEck as investment manager. AUSD's revenue-sharing model allows businesses to earn income from its use, creating new incentives. This exciting news precedes the upcoming Aggregation Summit in Bangkok, which will kick off ahead of the Ethereum Foundation's Devcon 2024 conference."

Firoza Finance Launches Shariah-Compliant DeFi Platform

Firoza Finance, a DeFi platform compliant with Islamic financial principles that was formed by a strategic partnership between HAQQ Network and Liberty Finance, announced the upcoming full launch of its Shariah-compliant investment platform, Firoza, scheduled for Nov. 11. According to the team: "With over 2,600 early participants on the waitlist, Firoza’s launch will feature nine diversified investment pools, breaking down the traditional barriers to finance with an entry threshold of just $100. Firoza’s platform bridges ethical finance and decentralized technology, empowering participants to invest confidently within Shariah-compliant guidelines."

Taiko, Ethereum's First Based Rollup, Enables 'Multi-Proof Architecture' Powered by Succinct, RISC Zero

Taiko, describing itself as Ethereum’s first based rollup network, has enabled multiple Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs powered by Succinct and RISC Zero, according to the team: "This enhanced multi-proof architecture, which includes SGX proofs, will help secure the network’s 5 million daily transactions. Multi-proof designs are key in ensuring security for based rollups as they align with Ethereum’s evolving vision for a trustless, secure ecosystem."

TAC Secures $6.5M in Seed Funding to Enable EVM-Based Applications for TON, Telegram Users

TAC, a TON network extension, has secured $6.5 million in a seed funding round to enable EVM-based applications for TON and Telegram users, according to the team: "Led by Web3 venture capital firm Hack VC and Symbolic Capital, this raise reflects investors’ strong enthusiasm for TAC’s vision and will help fuel the project’s upcoming testnet launch and the continued scaling of their marketing, developer relations and tech development efforts. This move is set to directly connect Ethereum’s largest community of developers with the most mature application ecosystem on TON, Telegram’s blockchain infrastructure."

Crypto Data Platform Dune Launches Echo, Acquires smlXL, Introduces Index to Measure Blockchain Adoption

Dune, a crypto data platform, made three announcements at DuneCon. They include "the launch of Echo, a multichain, real-time developer platform; the acquisition of a16z-backed, blockchain simulation company smlXL; and the introduction of the Dune Index, a new metric designed to measure meaningful blockchain adoption. These initiatives reflect Dune’s ongoing effort to provide comprehensive, real-time insights into blockchain data and adoption."

Decentralized Videoconferencing Platform Huddle01 Integrates With SocialFi Creator Platform FanTV

Huddle01, a decentralized videoconferencing platform, has integrated with SocialFi creator platform, FanTV, "giving its audience access to real-time interactions with their favorite celebrities, athletes, and content creators," according to the team: "Users can initiate secure, low-latency video calls and group meetings, with data encrypted and stored on distributed networks via Huddle01’s node network. Onboarding FanTV’s 4 million users will make the Huddle01 network more resilient and be a powerful test of the network’s proposed impressive scalability through Cascading Media Nodes as explained in theirwhitepaper."

Arbitrum DAO Launches $3.2M 'Stylus Sprint' Grant Program to Encourage Smart-Contract Development in Rust, C, C++

Arbitrum DAO has launched "Stylus Sprint," a major grant program offering 5 million ARB tokens ($3.18M) to developers building innovative smart contracts using their new Stylus technology. According to the team: "The program runs from Nov. 11 to Jan. 5, with a two-week review period following. Stylus enables smart contract development in Rust, C, and C++ while maintaining EVM compatibility, significantly expanding Arbitrum's capabilities. The initiative follows the successful integration of Stylus on both Arbitrum One and Nova networks, aiming to accelerate adoption and innovation in the ecosystem."

Espresso, Project for Composability Between Blockchains, Pushes Main Product Live

Espresso, a closely watched blockchain project to coordinate cross-chain transactions and interactions, shared Monday that its main product, known as the confirmation layer, has gone live. According to the team, the confirmation layer will be a critical piece of infrastructure for composability among rollups, allowing for two networks to read and trust each other's blocks of transaction data. Specific benefits of Espresso's new confirmation layer could include faster bridging of assets between networks, decentralizing a key component of layer-2 blockchains known as the "sequencer," and providing a way for networks to stash reams of transactional data at a low cost, according to the project documentation.

StakeStone, Omnichain Liquidity Infrastructure, Raises $22M

StakeStone, describing itself as an omnichain liquidity infrastructure, has secured a $22 million investment round led by Polychain Capital, with strategic investments from Binance Labs and OKX Ventures, seed round led by SevenX and participation from Nomad Capital, HashKey Capital, HashKey Cloud, Amber Group, Coinsummer, Bankless Ventures, DAO5, Symbolic Capital, Arcane Group and Quantstamp.

Okto, Chain-Abstraction Project, to Integrate Wallet With Polygon's AggLayer

Okto, a project for chain abstraction solutions, announced that the Okto Wallet will integrate with chains connected to the AggLayer, a cross-chain settlement solution co-developed by Polygon Labs and its collaborators. According to the team: "The announcement was made at the inauguralAggregation Summit, a groundbreaking event that brought together Web3 leaders to explore the space’s most significant technological trends, including the rise of aggregation, cross-chain Layer 2 transactions and zero-knowledge technology."

Ethereum L2 Lisk Integrates With Rainbow Wallet App

Lisk, an Ethereum layer-2 network, and Rainbow, a crypto wallet app, announced an integration of the Lisk network into Rainbow’s mobile apps and browser extension. According to the team: "Lisk users can now easily manage their tokens, NFTs and DeFi positions all in one intuitive platform. The integration simplifies asset management, allowing for easier navigation through the Lisk ecosystem. Users will benefit from in-app swaps, cross-chain asset bridging, and NFT minting directly within the Rainbow wallet. Lisk will be included in Rainbow’s Points and ETH Rewards programs, providing users with additional benefits for their platform activities."

Decentralized Social Media Firm Lens Eyes Massive Scale-Up

Lens, a decentralized social media project, released its version 3 on Monday, introducing information feeds and curated content groups. Users have the ability to create what are essentially decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), Lens founder Stani Kulechov said, ranging from newsletters to entire newspapers with thousands of contributors. The platform’s foundational on-chain identity and verification flexibility means a rising tide of AI-driven bias can be kept in check. The blog post is here.

Bitget Wallet Launches Telegram Mini-App Support Program With $20M Fund

Bitget Wallet, a leading non-custodial Web3 wallet, has launched the Telegram Mini-App Support Program in collaboration with Bitget and Foresight Ventures, according to the team: "The program aims to support the development of innovative projects that enhance Telegram's mini-app ecosystem, creating new opportunities for developers and projects within the thriving digital space. This initiative comes with a $20M fund and aims to foster the growth of the Telegram platform while offering valuable support to developers."

Polkadot Blockchain Academy Unveils Four-Week Course, PBA-X

Polkadot Blockchain Academy unveiled a new course, PBA-X. The CEO made the announcement in Bangkok over the weekend. PBA-X is a major initiative designed to accelerate Web3 learning and onboard the next generation of blockchain professionals. The four-week course includes a series of professionally filmed lectures, created exclusively for PBA-X, as well as a number of live lectures each week to complement. Course modules include Cryptography, Economics, Governance, Polkadot SDK,and Blockchain. The first PBA-X cohort is set to launch on Jan. 6.

Ethereum's ENS Identity System Set to Launch Own Layer-2 Blockchain

ENS Labs, the company behind the Ethereum Name Service, is moving ahead with a plan to launch its own layer-2 network. Namechain, as the new network is called, should go live around the end of next year, ENS Labs' chief operating officer, Katherine Wu, told CoinDesk. It will use zero-knowledge rollups, a scaling technology that speeds blockchain transactions and reduces the cost of executing them by compressing the amount of data published on-chain. “This technology allows Namechain to process and execute transactions off of the main Ethereum network while still inheriting the full security of Ethereum, but at a fraction of the cost,” ENS Labs said in a press release Monday. The new network will leverage the infrastructure of an existing zero-knowledge chain compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine, Wu said. The team is in the final stages of choosing which zkEVM it will use, she told CoinDesk by Telegram.

Nansen Expands to Bitcoin Layer 2, Will Provide Analytics for Bitlayer

Blockchain data provider Nansen said it will provide analytics to Bitcoin layer-2 Bitlayer, marking its first expansion into this ecosystem. Nansen, which allows users to see what's happening in blockchain networks in real time, aims to pave the way for more efficient decision-making in Bitcoin layer 2s empowered by the insights its data and analytics provide, according to an emailed announcement on Monday.

Thursday, Nov. 7

Blockstream Opens R&D Center in Lugano, Switzerland

Blockstream, the development firm led by early Bitcoin developer Adam Back, has opened an R&D hub in Lugano, Switzerland, "to foster fintech innovation on Bitcoin’s Liquid and Lightning networks," according to the team: "The new center aims to significantly increase innovation on layer 2's by collaborating with local startups and partners, providing resources, mentorship, as well as grants to standout projects. The initiative builds on successful events co-hosted by Blockstream in Lugano and Viareggio, Italy, aligned with its mission to expand Bitcoin’s role in modern finance." A couple photos were sent over by the team:

VC Darling Eclipse Finally Debuts Its Solana-Ethereum Blockchain Hybrid

Eclipse launched its long-awaited mainnet blockchain on Thursday — introducing a first-of-its-kind layer-2 network that melds tech from the popular Ethereum and Solana blockchains into a single package. Like other layer-2 Ethereum rollups, Eclipse lets people transact on Ethereum with faster speeds and lower fees. To accomplish this, it operates as its own network, written using the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) — the fast and cheap execution architecture spearheaded by Ethereum's biggest competitor, Solana. Similar to other layer 2s, Eclipse bundles up transactions from its users and periodically passes them down to the base Ethereum chain, where they're cemented permanently to the chain's ledger.

Pond, Building Decentralized AI Model Layer for Crypto, Raises $7.5M in Seed Round

Pond, building a decentralized AI model layer for crypto, has raised $7.5 million in a seed round led by Archetype, joined by more than 30 notable angels including Near co-founders, according to a message from founder Dylan Zhang. "Pond is building a decentralized AI model layer for crypto, using on-chain data to power predictive tools and autonomous agents in DeFi, trading and security. With a top AI team, Pond aims to democratize model ownership, enabling developers to create, own and monetize AI models on Web3, driving a new wave of AI applications in the crypto space," Pond wrote.

Liquid Restaking Protocol Puffer Announces Testnet Launch of Based Ethereum Rollup, 'UniFi'

PROTOCOL VILLAGE EXCLUSIVE: Puffer Finance, a decentralized native liquid restaking protocol, has announced the testnet launch of UniFi, described as a "based rollup to Ethereum which is low-cost, capable of sub-second transactions and allows asset withdrawal from L2 (UniFi) to L1 (Ethereum) within a minute." According to the team: "UniFi’s preconfirmations offer a strong improvement over traditional soft confirmations by using Ethereum validators instead of centralized sequencers, ensuring near-instant confirmation times with enhanced reliability, as validators face penalties for failing to include transactions. Puffer Testnet is currently open to builders."

Cytonic, Layer-1 Chain With 'MultiVM' Design, Raises $8.3M in Seed Round

Cytonic, a layer-1 blockchain known as "MultiVM" designed to be open to all technologies used in Web3, has closed its $8.3 million seed round, co-led by Lemniscap and Lattice. According to the team: "Developed by MultiVM Labs, Cytonic is the first layer 1 that runs multiple VM's within the same network layer using shared storage, addressing blockchain compatibility challenges. Cytonic is compatible with most blockchains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, enabling different transaction types to be processed together in a single block. The goal is make on-chain interactions easier while reducing transaction fees and waiting times when moving assets between chains."

Algorand Preps December Launch of 'Crypto’s Most Inclusive Staking Rewards Program'

The Algorand blockchain is preparing to roll out what it describes as "crypto’s most inclusive staking rewards program." According to the team: "Scheduled to go live in December after a consensus mechanism upgrade, ‘block rewards’ will start to be paid, in real-time, to validators successfully proposing blocks to the layer-1 blockchain. The rewards begin at 10 ALGO per block and will decay by 1% every 1 million blocks. Validators will also receive 50% of the transaction fees of the blocks they successfully propose." (ALGO)

Arpa Partners With Tomo Wallet on 'Secure, On-Chain Random Number Generation to Telegram Mini-Apps'

ARPA Network has partnered with Tomo Wallet to bring secure, on-chain random number generation to Telegram Mini Apps through Randcast, according to the team: "Now, developers can build next-generation decentralized applications and games within the Telegram ecosystem, using verifiable randomness to enhance fairness, security, and user experiences for over 1 billion Telegram users worldwide."

In Win for Polygon's AggLayer, Magic Labs Unveils Chain Unification Network 'Newton'

Magic Labs, a wallet infrastructure provider, shared Thursday that it has integrated with Polygon’s AggLayer to provide a network dedicated to chain unification, called Newton. The project will allow for wallet solutions to plug into the AggLayer, which is a Polygon-backed effort to connect affiliated chains and allow tokens to freely move between them. Magic Labs claims its the first dedicated network for wallet solutions and chain unification.

Hyperbridge, Polkadot-Based Blockchain Interoperability Protocol Relying on 'Coprocessor Model,' Launches Mainnet

Hyperbridge, a blockchain interoperability protocol, has launched its mainnet on Polkadot, and supports Ethereum, Optimism and BNB Chain. According to the team: "With $2.5 million in seed funding led by the Web3 Foundation and Scytale Digital, it provides secure & scalable cross-chain solutions. Key features include the Gateway token bridge, which leverages zk-proof security for asset transfers, instant multichain liquidity and cross-chain messaging. Hyperbridge supports use cases like unified liquidity pools and multichain expansion for DAOs and stablecoins, positioning itself as a robust infrastructure for DeFi." According to the project documentation, Hyperbridge relies on the "coprocessor model, where the verification operations are performed offchain and the results are securely reported back on-chain alongside cryptographic proofs of correct execution."

IllumineX, Non-Custodial Cross-Chain Privacy Solution Supported by Oasis, Launches Compliant-Friendly Wallet That Doesn't Rely on Mixer

IllumineX, a non-custodial and cross-chain privacy solution supported by the Oasis Network, announced the launch of its privacy-focused and complaint-friendly crypto wallet supporting EVM and non-EVM chains, including native Bitcoin. According to the team: "This launch aims to address the significant privacy challenges facing crypto users today. This is the first and only privacy solution for Bitcoin that does not rely on mixer technology."

DeFi Hub Spark Launches 'First On-Chain Order Book on Ethereum, Powered by Fuel VM'

Spark, a DeFi hub, has launched what it claims is "the first on-chain order book on Ethereum, powered by Fuel VM." According to the team: "Leveraging Fuel’s modular architecture, Spark offers secure, efficient trading with central limit order books (CLOBs), tailored for professional and institutional traders. Fully on-chain, Spark enhances transparency, prevents front-running and ensures self-custody. This breakthrough overcomes automated market makers (AMMs) and centralized exchange (CEX) limits, setting a new DeFi standard with Fuel's speed, scalability and precision for decentralized trading."

Solv Protocol Introduces Classification System for Underlying Assets of SolvBTC Reserve

Solv Protocol, a Bitcoin staking platform, has introduced a classification system for the underlying assets of its SolvBTC reserve, dividing them into Core Reserve (native BTC, Binance-backed BTCB) and Innovative Reserve (wrapped assets like WBTC, cbBTC), according to the team: "This setup enhances stability and risk management through minting caps and cross-chain rate limits on the Innovative Reserve. Now one of the largest multichain BTC liquid staking token issuers, Solv spans 10+ networks, including Ethereum and BNB Chain, with over 24,000 BTC ($2 billion) in reserves, offering secure, yield-generating opportunities in DeFi."

Outlier Ventures Announces the Five Teams in the LatAm Base Camp Cohort

Outlier Ventures, a Web3 accelerator, announced the five teams selected for its LatAm Base Camp accelerator: Bando (Mexico), Berry Investing (Argentina), Fact Finance (Brazil), IDENTI (Peru) and Loula (Argentina). According to the team: "Over a 12-week program, the cohort will receive support from Outlier Ventures in token design, engineering, investment, and fundraising, alongside guidance from Venture Partner, Morgan Creek Digital. The teams, chosen from across Latin America, represent early-stage startups focused on consumer fintech, OpenFI, financial inclusion, and DeFi, driving innovation within the LatAm ecosystem."

Router, Chain Abstraction Platform, Forms Partnership With Symbiotic

Router Chain, a chain abstraction platform, announced a partnership with permissionless shared security provider Symbiotic. According to the team: "The move signals Router Chain’s intent to keep up with the growing security demands associated with cross-chain interactions and experiences." A press release stated: "Symbiotic’s permissionless restaking model allows Router Chain to inherit Ethereum’s robust security model, eliminating the need to establish and maintain a new validator set to secure cross-chain interactions."

Symbiotic, Ethereum-Based Project for Shared Security, Collaborating With Abstraction Layer Omni

Symbiotic, an Ethereum-based project for shared security, backed by Paradigm and Cyber.Fund, announced a strategic collaboration with Omni Network, an abstraction layer for the Ethereum ecosystem. According to the team: "Omni will integrate Symbiotic’s restaking infrastructure, while Symbiotic will leverage Omni's cross-chain infrastructure to facilitate the first-ever direct deposits from major Ethereum rollups into an L1 protocol. This marks a significant step forward for both ecosystems, strengthening their capabilities and expanding the reach of secure cross-chain interactions."

Dune Launches Dashboard Tracking $2.5B Lost to Crypto Hacks and Phishing Scams

Crypto analytics platform Dune has launched a new dashboard mapping the extent of crypto-related cybercrime, documenting over 5,500 incidents of hacks, exploits, and phishing scams across the blockchain ecosystem. The platform’s “Hacks, Exploits and Social Engineering Dashboard” represents one of the most comprehensive efforts yet to quantify crime in crypto.

Michael Novogratz's Galaxy Looks to Turn Bitcoin Mining Into AI Computing as Revenue Falls

The brutally competitive bitcoin (BTC) mining industry is offering a clear choice to miners: pivot to artificial intelligence (AI) computing or suffer losses. Michael Novogratz's Galaxy Digital (GLXY.TO) is the latest to join the exit queue. The New York-based company signed a non-binding term sheet with an unidentified U.S.-based hyperscaler firm that could convert all its 800 megawatt (MW) power capacity to high-performance computing (HPC), it said in its third-quarter earnings statement. Hyperscaler firms are large-scale data centers that specialize in providing large amounts of computing power.