ZK breakthroughs, onchain comebacks and stablecoin shakeups

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From BOB’s breakthrough hybrid rollup design to VeChain’s TradFi-powered comeback, this week introduced a wave of architectural pivots and regulatory advances.

1. BOB guidelines

BOB (Construct on Bitcoin) simply deployed a first-of-its-kind rollup that makes use of zero-knowledge proofs for fraud decision inside an optimistic rollup framework.

Constructed with OP Kailua, a brand new OP Stack extension by RISC Zero and Boundless, the system permits cheaper, quicker fraud challenges — finalized in minutes fairly than days.

This novel strategy might catapult BOB to Stage 1 and Stage 2 standing on L2Beat, setting a brand new bar for trust-minimized Bitcoin DeFi. Anybody can problem a transaction with simply 0.5 ETH, drastically reducing the entry level for rollup participation. It’s a breakthrough that mixes zk finality with the accessibility of optimistic design.

2. Summer time Optimism

Optimism’s Improve 16 simply went reside — and never a second too quickly.

L2Beat is making ready to downgrade any rollup missing sturdy fraud-proof governance again to Stage 0 standing. The improve permits native cross-chain messaging and new bridge contracts, plus a better gasoline ceiling (from 200m to 500m) to accommodate rising demand. With chains like Base and Ink counting on the OP Stack, preserving Stage 1 classification is vital.

If Superchain desires to guide, decentralization can’t stay theoretical. It has to get actual.

3. A lot OS, very zk

In truly-the-funniest-outcome information, Dogecoin devs are floating a radical concept: combine zero-knowledge cryptography instantly into the bottom chain through a system dubbed DogeOS. The objective is to make Dogecoin greater than a meme by enabling verifiable computation and good contract-style capabilities.

If adopted, DogeOS could be one of many first native zk enhancements on a significant proof-of-work chain, bringing new utility to a community traditionally identified extra for vibes than engineering prowess.

The proposal’s nonetheless in early levels, nevertheless it marks a notable shift towards tech seriousness within the Doge ecosystem.

4. Stablecoin alliance

Anchorage Digital and Ethena Labs are teaming as much as launch the primary stablecoin constructed particularly for the US underneath the brand new GENIUS Act. USDtb, at the moment issued offshore, will now be minted by Anchorage’s federally chartered crypto financial institution.

Anchorage’s stablecoin platform is designed for institutional-grade compliance and programmability, and Ethena’s USDe has already develop into the third-largest stablecoin in DeFi by TVL. With this transfer, USDtb turns into a car for mainstream monetary integration, along with its DeFi-native enchantment.

5. Increasing the polycule

Polymarket acquired QCEX, a CFTC-registered alternate, successfully clearing a regulatory path into the US market. For longtime observers, this was inevitable.

“Prediction markets are step by step reshaping how folks interact with real-world occasions,” Chiliz’ Max Rabinovitch instructed Blockworks.

Sports activities betting is a large alternative for the onchain prediction market, notably after provisions within the large spending invoice nicknamed the “One Huge Lovely Invoice Act” stand to neuter skilled sports activities playing. As regulatory readability improves, Polymarket and others might bridge conventional markets with decentralized prediction infrastructure.

6. The cross-chain spin cycle

Centrifuge simply launched v3 throughout six chains (Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Plume and BNB Chain), creating essentially the most interoperable RWA infrastructure thus far. Powered by Wormhole, this model permits fund managers, DAOs and fintechs to launch totally customizable onchain merchandise with native chain abstraction. The platform has already secured a $1b allocation from Janus Henderson through Grove. With v3, Centrifuge is bridging DeFi-native capital and institutional-grade monetary merchandise in a single unified stack.

7. May as nicely Leap

A brand new L1 from ex-Citadel and Leap merchants has gone reside with a 40ms block time and a completely built-in buying and selling stack.

Constructed on SVM with enshrined dapps like Ambient and Fluxbeam, Fogo positions itself as a performance-maximized, Hyperliquid-style platform — however ostensibly with out sacrificing decentralization.

Whereas the tech stack is contemporary, the aggressive area is something however empty. Newcomers like Lighter, Ostium, Reya and Major.Trade all desire a piece of the perps pie. Fogo’s wager? That TradFi-grade latency and native infra will pull high merchants into its orbit.

8. VeChain staking program

2017-era ICO darling VeChain is reintroducing itself to the world with a $15m staking program and a set of TradFi partnerships. BitGo is onboard for custody, Franklin Templeton is integrating BENJI and validator administration now consists of Keyrock.

The newly launched StarGate staking system makes use of NFTs to simplify compliance and reward participation — proper because the SEC is pondering staking readability. It’s all a part of VeChain’s “Renaissance” improve geared toward modernizing tokenomics, bettering developer UX and getting establishments again onchain.

Can a legacy L1 regain relevance within the age of limitless appchains and well-funded rivals? Watch this house.

9. Going Ape

GameSquare (Nasdaq: $GAME) has acquired CryptoPunk #5577 — the “Cowboy Ape” — from Robert Leshner in a $5.15 million fairness deal. It’s the primary NFT-for-equity treasury play by a public firm, and a part of GameSquare’s bigger technique is to combine digital property throughout model, treasury and yield merchandise.

Leshner, in the meantime, has just lately tried a contested takeover of Liquor Home (LQR), which stalled after a poison capsule protection.

With this transfer, he exits some of the iconic Punks and joins GameSquare’s cap desk as a substitute.