Research Summary
The report provides a comprehensive roundup of the latest updates and announcements in the Layer 2 and Modular Blockchain space for the week of 28th January to 3rd February. It covers developments across various platforms including Starknet, Taiko, Metis, Linea, dYdX, Mode, Aevo, Zora, Owlto, Lyra, Morph, ZKM, Immutable X, rhinofi, tanX, Myria, Movement, Dymension, Caldera, AltLayer, Gelato, Cartesi, Avail, Espresso Systems, and Hyperlane.
Key Takeaways
Rollups Developments
- Starknet Integration: Celestia Blobstream is set to be integrated into Starknet, a Layer 2 scaling solution.
- Metis Community Testing: Metis, a Layer 2 Ethereum scaling solution, has released a summary of its second week of community testing for its decentralized sequencer.
- dYdX Chain Updates: dYdX, a decentralized exchange, has made its chain available on iOS and introduced a new market widget. It also announced the second season of dYdX chain incentives via Chaos Labs.
Validium and VM Developments
- Immutable X Mainnet Access: Immutable X, a Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, has launched early access to its zkEVM Mainnet.
- Movement’s ZK Move EVM L2: Movement has introduced M2, the first ZK Move EVM L2 on Ethereum, and joined the Omni Network open liquidity network to bring Move across Ethereum.
Infra Provider (RaaS) Developments
- Caldera’s Rollup Deployments: Caldera has deployed “Milan”, an Arbitrum Rollup on the Espresso Sequencer, and announced that Rollups can now be deployed with Celestia underneath.
- AltLayer Partnerships: AltLayer has announced a partnership with Camelot to bring native DEX support to Arbitrum Orbit chains and with Babylon to present new research for a decentralized verification Layer that leverages Bitcoin staking for security.
Data Availability and Sequencing Developments
- Avail’s ZK Focused Hackathon: Avail has announced “Circuit Breaker”, a ZK focused virtual Hackathon.
- Espresso Systems’ Node Operator Partners: Espresso Systems has declared interest in Node operator partners for its upcoming fifth testnet “Cappuccino”.
Actionable Insights
- Monitor Layer 2 Developments: With the ongoing developments in Layer 2 solutions like Starknet, Metis, and dYdX, stakeholders should keep a close eye on these platforms for potential opportunities and advancements in blockchain scalability.
- Assess Impact of Partnerships: The partnerships announced by AltLayer with Camelot and Babylon could have significant implications for the development of decentralized exchanges and security in the blockchain space. Stakeholders should assess the potential impact of these collaborations.
- Engage in Community Testing and Hackathons: Opportunities for community engagement such as Metis’ community testing and Avail’s ZK focused Hackathon provide valuable avenues for stakeholders to contribute to and learn from the ongoing developments in the blockchain space.
