• The case for 2x shorter slot times.

• Ethereal launches its public testnet.

• Optimism extends its bug bounty.

• ZKsync tests its Guardian system.

Ethereum researcher Barnabé Monnot published a post advocating for EIP-7782, a proposal to reduce Ethereum’s slot time from 12 to 6 seconds. Monnot proposed making shorter slot times a headliner feature of the upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade, which he argues improves user experience by enabling faster transaction inclusion. EIP-7782 enhances Ethereum’s role as a confirmation engine, benefiting users, applications, rollups, and cross-chain protocols. The change results in reduced latency, lower arbitrage losses on DEXs, predictable staking rewards, and more efficient network and validator performance. Monnot notes that the proposal is technically feasible; however, clients must implement conditional logic to handle both old and new slot times.

Ethereal, an EVM appchain and perpetuals DEX, is now live on testnet. Users can now add the Ethereal testnet and RPC to their wallets, request testnet USDe, explore the Ethereal block explorer, and begin trading testnet perpetuals on the DEX. The chain uses Ethena’s USDe stablecoin as the network’s native token and margin asset. Ethereal is built on Converge, leveraging Arbitrum for execution, Celestia for data availability, and a custom application-specific sequencer integrated via Conduit for ultra-low-latency order matching. The network offers sub-20 ms latency for high-frequency trading. A mainnet alpha launch is expected in the coming months.

OP Labs extended its $2 million bug bounty program on Immunefi to include Superchain Upgrade 16, an upgrade that prepares the Superchain for native interoperability Upgrade 16 introduces interop-ready contracts, increases the gas limit from 200M to 500M, and includes updates to meet L2Beat’s latest Stage 1 standards. The bounty scope now includes calldata. Optimism has already paid $2.6 million in bounties since 2022. The upgrade is anticipated to go live on July 24, 2025, following approval from the Optimism Token House. The Superchain secures over $16 billion in total value and includes three of the top five Ethereum L2s.

• EIP-7732 breakout notes

• ZKsync tests its Guardian system

• Zora launches Creator Coins

• Extending Sandboxes to New MEV Types

• EF Protocol research updates

• CoinMarketCap front-end compromised

• Polygon ZKEVM sunsets in 2026

• NasdaqBTCS acquires 1,000 ETH

• Renzo introduces Flow Vaults

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