• ZKsync launches the Airbender zkVM.

• Chainlink partners with Mastercard.

• OP Futarchy experiment results.

• Term goes live on Base.

ZKsync launched Airbender, a high-performance, general-purpose zero-knowledge (ZK) prover designed to advance decentralization, interoperability, and scalability. Airbender is the fastest open-source RISC-V zkVM, which delivers ~3-second proofs, outperforming proof systems like RiscZero and Succinct's SP1 Turbo. Airbender enables real-time settlement and cross-chain coordination, supports local proof generation on consumer hardware, and reduces proving costs to just $0.0001 per transfer. It integrates with ZKsync OS, a modular execution environment supporting EVM, WASM, and custom runtimes. Developers can now build verifiable apps on the Airbender beta.

Decentralized oracle provider Chainlink partnered with Mastercard to build a secure fiat-to-crypto conversion system, enabling over three billion current Mastercard cardholders to purchase crypto directly onchain. Chainlink verifies and synchronizes key transaction details to enable secure, seamless fiat-to-crypto asset conversions. The initiative is supported by zerohash, Swapper Finance, Shift4 Payments, and XSwap, and leverages the Uniswap protocol for onchain execution. Chainlink provides the interoperability infrastructure bridging traditional finance with DeFi applications, while Mastercard contributes access to its global payments network.

• OP Futarchy experiment results

• Term Labs goes live on Base

• Argent rebrands to Ready

• $100m net ETH ETF flows

• Devconnect ARG scholars deadline

• EigenLayer VIBEscore competition

• Powell on banks and crypto

Disclaimer: Content is for informational purposes only, not endorsement or investment advice. The accuracy of information is not guaranteed.