Base, the Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution from crypto exchange Coinbase, has witnessed a surge in activity in the past two months and is now gunning for the top spot in the Ethereum ecosystem. Related Reading: CZ Drops Major AI Warning: What Binance’s Founder Wants You To Know In an interesting development revealed by data from […]
A drop in Ethereum network activity and investors' concerns about the global economy continue to weigh on ETH price.
According to the latest Binance Research report, the Ethereum (ETH) issuance rate continued to rise in September 2024, raising concerns about the digital asset’s “ultrasound money” claim. Ethereum Issuance Rate Continues To Surge In its October 2024 Monthly Market Insights report, Binance Research highlighted that the ETH issuance rate continued its ascent in September, moving away from its previously deflationary status. Related Reading: Is Ethereum Primed For Surge? Analyst Reveals Key Levels to Watch For A $8,100 Rally The second largest digital asset by reported market cap had a 30-day annualized inflation rate of approximately 0.74%, a level not observed in the last two years. The sharp uptick in ETH supply inflation has questioned its “ultrasound money” positioning. Interestingly, the term “ultrasound money” draws inspiration from Bitcoin’s (BTC) “sound money” narrative. While BTC’s supply is capped at 21 million, ETH’s supply can become deflationary, theoretically increasing scarcity and protecting it from inflation-driven erosion of purchasing power. Ethereum’s high issuance rate could be attributed to several factors, including low mainnet on-chain activity, leading to a low transaction fee and, consequently, lower ETH burn rates. In 2021, Ethereum core developers implemented EIP-1559, which introduced a fee-burning mechanism that aimed to reduce ETH’s circulating supply, thereby creating deflationary pressure on the token. However, with declining mainnet activity, the amount of ETH being burned is lagging behind the ETH issuance rate, leading to a net inflationary trend. Notably, September 2024 experienced one of the lowest ETH burn rates since the highly anticipated Merge event, when Ethereum transitioned from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. Ethereum Layer-2 Solutions To Blame For Low ETH Burn Rate? The report points to March 2024 as the starting point of Ethereum’s inflationary trend, following the implementation of EIP-4844 or the Dencun upgrade, which reduced transaction costs on layer-2 scaling platforms such as Optimism (OP), Arbitrum (ARB), Base, and Polygon (MATIC). The report adds: As L2s cannibalized network activity throughout the year – further impacted by broader market conditions – transaction fees and, consequently, burned fees on Ethereum declined, with September recording one of the lowest levels since the Merge. This has prevented ETH from decreasing in supply to remain deflationary, leading to the net positive daily supply changes we now see. Recent trends corroborate the assertion above, as network activity on layer-2 solutions grows across different metrics. For instance, a report in July 2024 noted that daily active addresses and transaction volume on Polygon had soared significantly. Related Reading: Ethereum Solo Staking Made Easier? Vitalik Buterin Supports Lower Entry Requirements Similarly, decentralized finance (DeFi) activity on Arbitrum increased earlier this year when decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap surpassed $150 billion in total swap volume on the network. Another report found that over 48% of digital assets bridged from the Ethereum network end up on Arbitrum, indicating users’ high trust in the layer-2 network’s robust security and reliability. ETH trades at $2,385 at press time, up 1.7% in the past 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from Binance Research and Tradingview.com
Despite scalability and high gas fees facing Ethereum, the founder of EigenLayer, a liquidity restaking platform, insists the network is superior, especially against Solana. Solana is the third most valuable smart contracts platform, trailing Ethereum and the BNB Chain. Over the years since launching, it has been gulping up more market share from Ethereum, cementing its position. Is Ethereum Superior To Solana? While the prominence of Solana is evident, Sreeram Kannan, the founder of EigenLayer, argued in a post on X that Solana prioritizes low latency and global node synchronization over other core features. Related Reading: Solana (SOL) ‘Could Go Parabolic’ Once It Breaks $200 Resistance – Analyst On the other hand, Ethereum took a different approach, emphasizing the need for stability and decentralization. Accordingly, in Kannan’s view, the first smart contracts platform offers a more comprehensive solution than its competitor. Currently, EigenLayer manages over $12 billion worth of assets on Ethereum, according to DeFiLlama. Although Kannan acknowledges the efficiency of Solana, the founder nonetheless picks out some limitations now that the platform is building a global state machine. At the top of the list is the blockchain’s sacrifice of programmability and verifiability. Meanwhile, the EigenLayer lead thinks Ethereum is excelling, especially on performance, thanks in part to the success of rollups and the resulting wild adoption. This off-chain solution provides instant confirmation and is more performant than web2 applications. At the same time, Ethereum is programmable, enabling EigenLayer to add more features like an arbitrary decentralization of verifiable tasks. As a result, the liquidity restaking platform, Kannan adds, has enabled cloud-scale programmability. Layer-2 Platforms Thriving: Why Is ETH Struggling? The co-founder of Celestia, Mustafa Al-Bassam, also appreciates what Ethereum brings to the table and is absent or underdeveloped in other networks. In a post on X, Al-Bassam said the first smart contracts platform is “underrated.” Related Reading: Shiba Inu Burn Rate Skyrockets 81% In One Day, Are The Bulls Back? Specifically, the co-founder lauded the thriving rollup ecosystem in Ethereum, saying it is “by far the largest and most successful.” As of September 30, L2Beat data shows that the layer-2 ecosystem in Ethereum manages over $38 billion, with Arbitrum and Base among the largest platforms. Even as Base and other Ethereum layer-2 platforms draw activity, ETH, the native currency, is struggling for momentum. The daily chart shows bulls have yet to break above $2,800, although support remains at $2,400. Dwindling upside momentum has been partly blamed on the proliferation of layer-2 scaling solutions. The network becomes inflationary as more activity is re-routed off-chain, and enhancements like Dencun are activated to make layer-2 transactions even cheaper. Looking at Ultra Sound Money, fewer ETH are not being torched. Feature image from DALLE, chart from TradingView
Crypto hack and fraud-related losses decreased in Q3 2024, though Ethereum (ETH) remained the most targeted smart contract platform, according to a report by Immunefi. Losses Primarily Due To Centralized Exchange Hacks Immunefi has released its 2024 Q3 report, detailing the specifics of cryptocurrency-related hacks and losses during the quarter. The report notes two major […]
Synthetix, a popular DeFi protocol, is facing challenges regarding its plans for Arbitrum, a layer-2 platform for Ethereum. According to the recent voting results, the community voted against its plans to extend its Long-Term Incentive Program (LTIP) grant. Arbitrum Holders Vote Against Synthetix Proposal The goal was to support the launch of Multi-Collateral Perps. The feature would have permitted traders to trade using margin with ETH, BTC, and USDx acting as collateral when initiating perpetual futures on Arbitrum via Synthetix perpetuals. Related Reading: LayerZero Surges over 7% As Bulls Ignite Fresh Rally, A $4.5 Breakout Looms? If the Arbitrum community had agreed, it would have allowed Synthetix to distribute 900,000 ARB as trading fee rebates. According to the Synthetix proposal, they intended to incentivize users and, thus, boost the active trading volume of Synthetix on the layer-2 platform. While novel and a net positive for Synthetix, the ARB community deemed the extension, which would have started from September 16 through November 16, unnecessary. Subsequently, 66% of all ARB votes were against this extension, and 9% supported this proposal. Now that ARB holders have rejected the extension, the launch of the Multi-Collateral Perps feature will face delays. For this reason, Synthetix users on Arbitrum would have to wait longer to trade trustless perpetual with the freedom to use various margin assets. At the same time, there are now reduced incentives to engage. Fewer users will be willing to trade on Arbitrum using Synthetix perpetual without the extension. Accordingly, this would negatively impact the DeFi trading portal. Combining the above, engagement on Arbitrum would be impacted as Synthetix traders, angling for the fee rebates sent from the 900,000 ARB, would withdraw. What’s Next? Will ARB Recover From Record Lows? In the future, it remains to be seen how Synthetix will proceed on Arbitrum, the largest Ethereum layer-2 by trading volume. As it is, the protocol might now have to explore other strategies to incentivize traders and launch the crucial Multi-Collateral Perps feature. Related Reading: FTM Rockets 17% Amid Growing Interest In Fantom Ecosystem Though SNX prices might suffer, ARB might find support now that supply will be lowered. Looking at the daily chart of the ARBUSDT, sellers are in control. After peaking in January 2024, ARB has been plunging lower, sliding by as much as 80% to spot rates. The token finds itself in critical support. If bears take over, ARB will fall, printing fresh all-time lows. Feature image from iStock, chart from TradingView
The ongoing hack has already netted the attackers over $6 million worth of stablecoins, which have been swapped to ETH by the attacker.
Competition is mounting among DeFi derivatives protocols after Synthetix launched on Arbitrum in July.
Competition is mounting among DeFi derivatives protocols after Synthetix launched on Arbitrum in July.
Tokenized treasury products are gaining widespread adoption on blockchain networks.
Synthetix faces fierce competition on the DeFi-oriented layer 2.
Synthetix faces fierce competition on the DeFi-oriented layer 2.
The fund’s official record of share ownership is kept on the Stellar network and the fund may also use Polygon and Arbitrum for certain accounts.
Prometheum is forging ahead with its strategy to comply with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's view on cryptocurrency transactions by letting two more tokens into its custody operation for crypto securities, whether the rest of the industry agrees or not.
Since the inception of Ethereum, the network’s high transaction costs have been a major issue in the crypto market, prompting users to seek an alternative for their day-to-day activities. However, with the recent development regarding the network’s gas fees, Ethereum could be poised for massive adoption as its transaction cost has declined to a level […]
Analysts forecast $300 to $1,000 SOL, but network data suggests that a rally to $190 is a more realistic expectation.
Users of Arbitrum orbit chains, layer-3 solutions for Ethereum built on top of the platform’s technology stacks, can now pay gas fees using USDC. The move comes even as ARB, the native token of the Ethereum layer-2, continues to post lower lows, pushing losses to nearly 80% since January 2024 highs. Arbitrum Orbit Chains Support USDC For Paying Gas Fees In a press release, the decision to integrate bridged USDC aims to reduce gas fees and attract more developers. As of August 8, USDC is one of the top stablecoins by market cap. CoinMarketCap data shows that Circle, the stablecoin issuer, has minted over $34.5 billion of the token, mainly on Ethereum and its layer-2s. Related Reading: 3 Reasons Why Ethereum Is Struggling Today: Will ETH Break $2,000? It should be noted that USDC is also supported in other ecosystems, including Solana and the BNB Chain. Currently, over $1.6 billion USDC has been bridged to Arbitrum. By allowing users to pay gas fees using USDC, Arbitrum said they would be saved from the pain of enduring volatility typical in ETH. Depending on demand, gas fees tend to fluctuate, rising by several folds when there is congestion in the mainnet. This volatility tends to impact user experience significantly. As such, some users opt for alternative platforms like Solana or Avalanche, where gas fees are relatively low. Since USDC is pegged to the greenback, it is stable. Accordingly, regardless of the decentralized app they use on Arbitrum’s orbit chains, users can predict gas fees, making it easier to budget and, more importantly, manage finances. Pushing Adoption, ARB Down 80% In 8 Months In the press release, Arbitrum added that this integration will free orbit chain users from holding multiple tokens, further enhancing user experience. Related Reading: More Pain Ahead: Analyst Warns Of Imminent Bitcoin Plunge Below $54,000 To Fill CME Gap Circle also announced a grant program for projects looking to be built on Arbitrum. This may spur the adoption of USDC on the orbit chain. Despite the integration, ARB, the native token of Arbitrum, remains under intense selling pressure. As of August 8, the downtrend remains, and ARB is down nearly 80% from January 2024 highs. Even though prices have been consolidating, as evident in the daily chart, bulls need to push higher, clearing $0.60. However, a clean break above 40.80, or July highs, could spark demand. This surge may revive demand in the medium to long term. Feature image from DALLE, chart from TradingView
Arbitrum resumes its drive downward along with the broader market downturn investors are experiencing today. According to the latest market data, ARB is down nearly 14% since last week, putting more pressure on the bulls to slow the bearish tide. However, there are several developments on the platform that might affect investor perception in the long term. These new deployments might make or break the early half of the month for investors and traders alike. Related Reading: Render Continues To Flash Red In All Timeframes – What’s Going On? Multiple Projects Now Support Arbitrum Metalend, a blockchain lending company, recently announced its support for Arbitrum on its native platform. This new addition to the Arbitrum circle will further push users to the platform, leveraging Metalend’s already big following. With Arbitrum’s growing position in the lending space of crypto, the platform might experience growth in that sector of the market. However, they’re not the only ones to join the fray. MetaLend is excited to announce that we have launched support for @arbitrum! You can now go to https://t.co/xnBCsmSwdo to track and trade (leveraging DEX aggregators) your @arbitrum portfolio. You can track multiple wallets in one view and soon you will be able to submit limit… — MetaLend – Manage All Your Wallets in One Place! (@MetaLend_DeFi) July 30, 2024 Blockscout announced its support for Arbitrum One, giving investors and traders access to a whole list of features for them to analyze on-chain data on Arbitrum. Features like in-depth block data, verified smart contracts, and full API access are some of the things Arbitrum users will have access to because of this. The platform’s DAppScout feature will also help users filter dApps with low-security scores, improving user experience while giving them the ability to keep their funds safe from malicious actors. ArbOS 31 ‘Bianca’ To Bring More Devs On-Board ArbOS 31 is a proposal that would expand Arbitrum’s position within the dev space. If it passes, several key features will be added like Stylus VM which will enable the Arbitrum chain to support more programming languages like Rust and C++. To make it simple, Stylus VM will be used by devs to code on their language of expertise rather than switching to Solidity, Arbitrum’s native coding language. This change will make smart contract deployment easier as it makes any smart contract written on the platform be compatible with existing Solidity-based smart contracts. The proposal also covers the implementation of Passkeys, a password-less system of identification to protect user data and funds, and the Nova Fee Router which will make the collection of fees on the Arbitrum DAO more efficient. Arbitrum has also announced that voting for the proposal is now live. A Long Time Recovery For ARB? The market’s bearishness might continue until middle of August, which poses an important question to ARB bulls: whether to attempt slowing the bears down now or attempt at a later date. Related Reading: GRT Market Signals 12% Drop: Is A Turnaround Possible? ARB’s current position will further endanger any potential of near future gains for investors and traders. With the market environment favoring the bears in the short to medium-term, more pain will be felt by investors and traders. Investors should then wait for the perfect opportunity, watching the movement of the broader market before making a decision. Featured image from Wired, chart from TradingView
Justin Bons, founder and chief investment officer of Cyber Capital, has sparked a polarizing debate in the crypto community with a scathing critique of the current Layer-2 (L2) solutions on Ethereum. The founder of the oldest crypto fund in Europe described networks like Arbitrum, Base and Optimism, designed to improve Ethereum’s scalability by offloading transactions […]
With its swap volume surging to a new all-time high, Uniswap, the leading decentralized exchange (DEX) in the cryptocurrency industry, has achieved a noteworthy milestone, showcasing its position as a formidable DEX. This accomplishment emphasizes how important the exchange is to the continuing growth of Decentralized Finance (DeFi), as more users look to DEXs for […]
The deployment of the GHO stablecoin on the Ethereum layer-2 network will leverage Chainlink's CCIP interoperability protocol.
Discover all crypto token unlocks in July, with Xai, AltLayer, Arbitrum, and Aptos leading over $350 million in releases.
The post Crypto market faces $860M token unlocks in July appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
The price of Arbitrum’s governance token, ARB, has been experiencing a significant slump, nearing its all-time low. However, despite this downward trend, the market capitalization of ARB has witnessed substantial growth, expanding by over 75% to reach $2.23 billion. Market Cap Defies Price Decline Over the next three years, an additional 36% of Arbitrum’s total […]
TON has seen more daily active addresses than Ethereum in 10 of the last 11 days — however, that figure doesn’t include Ethereum layer 2s.
Initially introduced in March, the proposal gained official approval on June 7, with a majority of over 75% of votes in favor.
Coinbase-backed Ethereum layer-2 network, Base, is experiencing rapid growth, reflecting the significant adoption and attention it enjoys from the crypto community. Base’s growth comes amid the exchange launch of its Smart Wallet, a self-custodial solution aimed at bringing more than 1 billion users on-chain. Increased network activity Base recorded the highest daily transactions among Ethereum […]
The post Base outpaces Optimism and Arbitrum amid Coinbase’s Smart Wallet debut appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Arbitrum's recent proposal to unlock $250 million in ARB tokens for the Gaming Catalyst Program divides community opinion.
The post Arbitrum’s proposal to unlock 225M ARB for gaming boost sparks debate appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Identifying trends in DeFi requires analyzing activity on decentralized exchanges (DEXs). These DEXs are the cornerstone of the DeFi market, at the center of DeFi activity, and the main driving force of the sector. To understand what drives DeFi, we need to look at the volume, trader activity, and variety of trading pairs on DEXs. […]
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Ethereum's L2 networks are transforming the blockchain's fee structure and spurring a new wave of economic activity.
The post Ethereum fees hit lows while L2 capture users’ attention: IntoTheBlock appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Much-hyped restaking project EigenLayer's 43-page whitepaper about its now-revealed EIGEN token has raised lots of questions. They may not matter initially, because much of the promised functionality won't be ready when the token launches.