Research Summary
The report covers significant updates in the blockchain and cryptocurrency sector, including the decommissioning of BNB Beacon Chain, a 40% staff reduction at Near Foundation, the resignation of StarkWare’s CEO, and other project updates.
Key Takeaways
BNB Beacon Chain Decommissioning
- BNB Beacon Chain Phase-Out: The BNB Beacon Chain is set to be phased out within six months, according to a validator on the BNB Chain. The BSC validator election mechanism will transition from the BNB Beacon Chain to BSC. The first dual-chain hard fork is scheduled for April, which will activate the BSC election mechanism and gradually phase out the election mechanism on the Beacon Chain.
Near Foundation Staff Reduction
- Staff Reduction at Near Foundation: The Near Foundation has announced a restructuring plan, which includes reducing its team by about 40%. The decision was made after a review of internal activities by the Near Foundation Council received unfavorable feedback. Despite the restructuring, the foundation reports that its financial condition and management remain strong.
StarkWare CEO Resignation
- CEO Resignation at StarkWare: Uri Kolodny, the CEO and Co-founder of StarkWare, has resigned from his position due to serious medical challenges faced by his family. He will continue to serve as a board member for StarkWare and the StarkNet Foundation. Eli Ben-Sasson, the Co-founder and President of StarkWare, will assume the role of CEO.
Arbitrum Community Proposal Vote
- Long-Term Incentive Pilot Program: The Arbitrum community has initiated a proposal vote for a long-term incentive pilot program. The pilot program plans to distribute 25 to 45 million ARB tokens to protocols built on Arbitrum, with the specific quantity to be determined by the vote and distributed over a 12-week period.
Optimism’s Third Round of RetroPGF Grants
- Allocation of OP Tokens: Optimism has announced the results of the third round of funding for RetroPGF, allocating a total of 30 million OP tokens to contributors to the Optimism Collective’s public goods. RetroPGF primarily rewards individuals and projects contributing to the creation of infrastructure, tools, and content to foster the growth of the Optimism ecosystem.
Actionable Insights
- Monitor the Transition of BNB Beacon Chain: Stakeholders should closely watch the transition from BNB Beacon Chain to BSC, as it could impact the BNB Chain’s operations and the value of BNB assets.
- Assess the Impact of Near Foundation’s Restructuring: Investors and stakeholders should evaluate the potential impact of Near Foundation’s restructuring on its operations and the value of NEAR tokens.
- Consider the Implications of StarkWare’s Leadership Change: The resignation of StarkWare’s CEO could have implications for the company’s strategic direction and operations. Stakeholders should monitor the company’s performance under the new leadership.
- Track the Outcome of Arbitrum’s Proposal Vote: The outcome of the proposal vote could impact the distribution of ARB tokens and the growth of the Arbitrum ecosystem. Stakeholders should track the vote’s results and its implications.
- Understand the Impact of Optimism’s RetroPGF Grants: The allocation of OP tokens could stimulate the growth of the Optimism ecosystem. Stakeholders should understand the impact of these grants on the value of OP tokens and the development of the ecosystem.
