Quick Take

• EigenLayer activates slashing on mainnet.

• Timeboost goes live on Arbitrum chains.

• Fabric introduces an inbox for based rollups.

• Ethena introduces a modular RWA chain

EigenLayer Activates Slashing On Mainnet

EigenLayer launched slashing on mainnet, marking the completion of its core protocol launch. Slashing allows Actively Validated Services (AVSs) to enforce accountability by penalizing operators who violate service-level conditions, such as incorrect computation or liveness failures. The upgrade introduces two critical enforcement mechanisms. First, Unique Stake Allocation lets Operators assign specific portions of their stake to individual AVSs, isolating slashing risk and clarifying responsibilities. Second, Operator Sets enable AVSs to group operators with custom slashing rules. Early adopters of EigenLayer slashing include LayerZero and Infura DIN.

Timeboost Goes Live On Arbitrum

Arbitrum launched Timeboost on Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova mainnet. Timeboost is a transaction ordering policy that allows users to optionally pay a fee for priority block inclusion while mitigating the impact of MEV. The policy uses an encrypted mempool, ensuring that transaction details remain hidden until the transaction order is finalized. Timeboost auctions currently occur nearly every minute, achieving a 70–90% utilization rate. To participate, users must deposit WETH into the auction contract before submitting bids. The activation aims to reduce network congestion, protect users from MEV attacks and generate new revenue for the Arbitrum DAO. 

Fabric Introduces RAID

Fabric, a collaborative initiative focused on developing standards for rollup infrastructure, introduced Retroactive Attestation of Inbox Data (RAID) — a new inbox design for Ethereum rollups adopting based sequencing. Rollups require an inbox to accept transaction data such as blobs. In based sequencing, Ethereum L1 proposers also serve as rollup sequencers. RAID enables based rollups to use a secure and decentralized inbox model that supports preconfirmations without needing real-time knowledge of the current L1 proposer. With RAID, anyone can submit blobs, which are then filtered. Validation occurs retroactively, and valid blobs are promoted to the safeHead, which rollups use to derive state.

Converge Modular RWA Chain

Ethena Labs, in collaboration with Securitize, introduced Converge, a modular Layer 2 network focused on Real World Assets (RWAs). Built on the Arbitrum Orbit stack, Converge leverages Celestia for data availability and uses a custom G2 sequencer developed by Conduit. The network includes the Converge Validator Network (CVN)—a security and coordination layer powered by staked ENA. Converge aims to bridge traditional finance and DeFi by supporting both permissioned RWA applications and permissionless DeFi protocols. Converge is launching on testnet in the coming weeks, with mainnet expected in Q2 2025.

Other News

• Applications open for EPF cohort 6

• Lens Chain hits 1m GHO bridged

• Circle introduces Refund Protocol

• Introducing ENSvolution

• Celo launches Stable Mag

• Close to Ultrasound blobs

• Launch on Base playbook

• Superform introduces rewards

• Ameen comments on Ethereum Religion

See disclosures