March 17: Mantle Network, a modular Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution, announced the successful completion of its mainnet v2 “Tectonic” upgrade, according to the team: “The upgrade began at 1 a.m. UTC on March 15 and concluded eight hours later at 9 a.m. UTC. The technical milestone extends Mantle Network’s lead in gas savings. Gas cost on Mantle post-v2 Tectonic is expected to remain as one of the least expensive, if not the least expensive among L2s, even with huge slashes post-Dencun’s EIP-4844. It also features enhanced interoperability with other OP Stack chains and a vastly rewarding user experience.”
Encrypted Layer-2 TEN Raises $9M, Led by R3
March 17: TEN, an encrypted Ethereum layer-2 network, announced a funding round of $9 million, led by R3, according to the team: “R3, a consortium of 42 of the world’s largest banks exploring blockchain-based RWA tokenization and CBDCs, has been a major supporter of TEN from its inception, with over half of TEN’s senior team hailing from R3, which developed the leading tokenization platform Corda. In addition to R3, the funding round includes support from notable investors such as Republic Crypto, KuCoin Labs, Big Brain Capital, DWF Labs and Magnus Capital.”
Aptos Labs Partners With Google Cloud on ‘Aptos Gamestack’
March 17: Aptos Labs is partnering with Google Cloud to bring Aptos Gamestack, a unified platform designed to enhance live service game offerings with Web3 capabilities, to the global gaming community, according to the team: “Aptos GameStack complements Google Cloud’s leading solutions in data, analytics and AI/ML with Web3 game tools such as development SDKs, API gateways, and access to world-class support, exclusively available on Aptos. Game builders can use Aptos GameStack today to integrate Aptos-powered Web3 features from seamless sign-on solutions to NFT token standards into any live game.”
Space and Time Partners With Matter Labs to Launch on ZkSync
March 17: Space and Time (SxT), a Web3 data warehouse and verifiable compute layer for AI and blockchain, has partnered with Matter Labs to launch SxT’s network on zkSync’s hyperchain, boosting trustless data processing for smart contracts and enterprises, according to the team: “SxT’s data warehouse will combine blockchain data with off-chain datasets, deploying ZK proofs to guarantee data integrity (both off and on-chain).”
Cosmos-Based Canto Blockchain Reverses Course on Polygon Layer-2 Plans, Unveils New Roadmap
March 17: Cosmos-based layer-1 blockchain Canto unveiled its “Cyclone Stack,” aimed at scaling and improving performance. It is also reversing course on its previously announced plan to shift to an Ethereum layer-2 network. Canto, a blockchain designed for decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, first announced in September that it would become an Ethereum layer-2 network using Polygon’s Chain Development Kit (CDK). The team clarified on Friday, however, that it will continue to function as a Cosmos-based layer-1 network. It will run Polygon’s type-1 prover, plugging into their aggregation layer (AggLayer) designed to unify blockchain liquidity.
DePIN project Chirp Launches Testnet to Power Decentralized IoT
March 17: Chirp Network has launched its testnet on Sui Blockchain as it rolls-out an IoT network that has the power to seamlessly connect a large number of devices, according to the team: “Chirp’s Radio Access Network (RAN) is already deployed in 30 countries, with miners that install the project’s ‘Blackbird’ devices able to earn Chirp tokens as they build a wireless network with unprecedented connectivity and mobile capability.”
Kogan Joins Web3 Venture Fund TDVC as Partner and CEO of TDX
March 17: Constantin Kogan, co-founder of BullPerks and GamesPad, has joined TDVC, a Web3 venture fund by TradeDog Group, as a partner and the CEO of TDX, according to the team: “With a decade in crypto, Kogan has invested in blockchain since 2012, incubating over 70 projects. In addition, he founded Adwivo, served as a partner at BitBull Capital, and was the managing director at Wave Financial. His expertise will support TDVC, which invests in early-stage companies and has backed unicorns like Biconomy and Chingari. TradeDog Group values Kogan’s deep understanding and vision for Web3 advancement.”
Ethereum Layer 2 Metis Claims First in Launching Decentralizing Sequencer
March 14: EVM-equivalent Ethereum Layer-2 scaling solution Metis is launching the Alpha Version of its groundbreaking Decentralized Sequencer, “marking a major step on the path to rollup decentralization,” according to the team. “The Decentralized Sequencer is an evolutionary leap beyond the single-sequencer model currently being used by other layer-2 rollups. The launch makes Metis the first Ethereum rollup to decentralize its sequencer.” (METIS)
BNB Chain Unveils ‘Rollup-as-a-Service,’ to Spur Layer 2s Built on BSC
March 14: BNB Chain has unveiled rollup-as-a-service (RaaS), for seamless layer-2 blockchain development on BNB Smart Chain (BSC), according to the team: “RaaS empowers dApps and enterprises to create custom L2s. Collaboration with providers like AltLayer, NodeReal and Movement Labs enhances versatility. BNB Chain aims to be a ‘one-stop shop’ for Web3 building, emphasizing collaboration and mass adoption. OpBNB Connect facilitates the interconnection of all L2s built on BSC, for an integrated network to emerge where benefits and innovation are shared across diverse L2s.” The RaaS rollout was included in BNB Chain’s 2024 tech roadmap published in January. (BNB)
Edge & Node, The Graph Expand Subgraph Support to Include Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base
March 14: Edge & Node and The Graph Foundation “announced the expansion of subgraph support on The Graph Network to include over 40 of the most widely used blockchains,” according to the team. “Developers building on the EVM and non-EVM chains like Arbitrum, Avalanche, Base, Celo, Fantom, Gnosis, NEAR, Optimism, Polygon Labs, Scroll and zkSync can now leverage The Graph’s decentralized network for lower costs and competitive syncing times. (GRT)
Hadron Founders Club Launches to Support Web3 Builders, With Polygon Labs Backing
March 14: A new organization called Hadron Founders Club has launched “to support and empower passionate founders, developers and creators building in Web3,” with Ajit Tripathi as a core contributor and backing from Polygon Labs, according to the team: “Hadron FC will launch with two inaugural cohorts in April, hosted at campuses in Dubai and New York City. These cohorts will serve as hubs for collaboration, learning and networking – providing founders with the right environment to build and scale their Web3 startups. Applications for these cohorts will open in the second week of March and remain open for four weeks. Founders of early-stage startups in the Web3 space are encouraged to apply. For more info, visit HadronFC.com, and founders building in the Polygon ecosystem can apply for the first cohort in April here.”
Range, Security and Risk Platform Focused on Cosmos, Raises $2.7M
March 14 (PROTOCOL VILLAGE EXCLUSIVE): Range, a security and risk platform focused on the Cosmos blockchain ecosystem, has raised $2.7M in a funding round led by Galileo. Range’s tools, like the CCTP explorer and IBC Rate Limits, enhance the security of cross-chain applications. The platform plans to expand its services to Ethereum-native L2s like Arbitrum and Optimism.
Polyhedra Network Closes $20M Round at $1B Valuation
Story Protocol Works With Crypto-AI Firm Ritual To Train and Track Models On-Chain
March 14: Story Protocol, a blockchain-based platform focused on intellectual property (IP) rights, says it will be used by the crypto-meets-AI startup Ritual to let builders create AI models and track their outputs on-chain. Under the so-called partnership, Ritual will begin posting its user-made AI models to Story Protocol to “prove that outputs like text, image, and voice are generated by specific models” and provide “advanced watermarking schemes that will give developers stronger security guarantees around provenance and traceability,” Story Protocol said in a statement. According to Story Protocol co-founder Jason Zhao, a new software development kit (SDK) is also in the works that will allow Ritual developers to seamlessly register their models as “IP Assets” on Story Protocol.
Polkadot Announces New SDK for DApp Development
March 14: Polkadot is announcing a new Software Development Kit (SDK) developers can use to create dApps on the network, according to the team: “The new Verified Polkadot SDK for Unity simplifies the development process for creators and developers seeking to create engaging Web3 games on Polkadot. Polkadot Play not only provides developers with the necessary tools & data but also offers a dedicated tech team to assist in game integration. In collaboration with the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA), Polkadot Play will be introducing a Game Jam (hackathon) in 2024, inviting developers to build on the Polkadot SDK for Unity.” (DOT)
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