layer 2


Tech

New Ethereum Layer 2 Blast Attracts $30M Hours After Bridge Goes Live

Blast boasts prominent investors Paradigm and "eGirl Capital" members among others, but there’s no way to withdraw funds until February.

(CHUTTERSNAP/Unsplash)

Tech

The Protocol: Ethereum Layer-2s Keep Coming as OKX Apes In

In this week's edition of The Protocol newsletter, we look at a few growing trends, including blockchain development marked by the expansion of Ethereum's layer-2 networks, the increased use of zero-knowledge cryptography and the Bitcoin blockchain's new support for tokens, smart contracts and file hosting.

(Maksym Ostrozhynskyy/Unsplash)

Tech

Blockchain Developer Lattice Unveils 'Alternative Data Availability' Network for Optimism

The new "Redstone" network, currently operating as a test network, is rooted in an effort to make blockchains cheaper for gaming and decentralized applications – relying on off-chain "data availability" providers as part of the broader setup.

Lattice Founder and CEO Justin Glibert (Lattice)

Tech

Cryptocurrency Exchange OKX Coming Out With Layer 2 ‘X1’ Built on Polygon Technology

The OKB token will be used for gas fees on the new chain, which comes as rival crypto exchanges including Coinbase and reportedly Kraken are pursuing their own layer-2 projects.

OKX Chief Innovation Officer Jason Lau (OKX)

Tech

Kraken Said to Seek Partner to Help Build It a Layer 2 Blockchain Network

The crypto exchange is still considering which blockchain developer should build its network, with Polygon, Matter Labs and the Nil Foundation in the mix, according to people familiar with the situation. Rival crypto exchange Coinbase blazed the trail with Base.

Kraken CEO Jesse Powell (CoinDesk)

Tech

Arbitrum Foundation Says 'Orbit' for Layer-3 Networks Now Ready for Mainnet

Orbit is a program for developers to spin up their own layer-3 blockchains atop Arbitrum, which in turn is the largest layer-2 network atop the Ethereum blockchain.

Steven Goldfeder, CEO and co-founder, Offchain Labs and Margaux Nijkerk, CoinDesk reporter (Shutterstock/CoinDesk)

Tech

Scroll Confirms Mainnet Live, as Co-Founder Predicts Speed Gains Over Ethereum

Blockchain data showed that Scroll’s smart contract was deployed on Oct. 8, but the team held off making its official announcement until this week.

Scroll co-founder Sandy Peng (Bradley Keoun)

Tech

Scroll zkEVM Launches, Blockchain Data Shows, Competing With Polygon, Matter Labs

The new Ethereum layer-2 network's debut adds to the competition among rival providers of so-called "zkEVMs," including Polygon and Matter Labs.

Scroll co-founder Sandy Peng (Bradley Keoun)

Tech

Polygon Emerges as Suitor for Celo’s New Layer-2 Blockchain, Competing With OP Stack

Celo, which is ditching its standalone blockchain in favor of a new "layer-2" network atop Ethereum, had originally signaled plans to rely on Optimism's OP Stack, a similar customizable kit to Polygon's but using Optimism’s “optimistic” technology.

Image tweeted by Celo officials on Monday from conference in Barcelona. (Celo)

Tech

Understanding the Economics of Ethereum Layer 2s

Ethereum is on the verge of enormous growth, aided by the L2 blockchains that complement it.

(Rachael Ren/ Unsplash)