• Aave V4 goes live on testnet.

• Aztec Network launches Ignition Chain.

• The USX stablecoin goes live on Scroll.

• Safe Labs launches Safe Shield.

Arkiv is an Ethereum-aligned data layer for Web3. Arkiv brings the familiar concept of a traditional Web2 database into the Web3 ecosystem. Find out more at Arkiv.network

Aave V4, the newest evolution of the Aave protocol featuring a Unified Liquidity Layer, is now live on testnet. The release includes the v4 codebase and a developer preview of Aave’s new interface, Aave Pro. V4’s architecture centralises liquidity into Liquidity Hubs, reducing same-chain fragmentation, improving capital efficiency, enabling lighter governance, and allowing modular upgrades through Spokes. Aave V4 also introduces Risk Premiums, a new mechanism that adjusts borrowing costs based on collateral quality, resulting in more accurate risk pricing and improved market efficiency. Users can currently test deposits and borrows on the Aave Devnet.

Aztec Network, a privacy-focused protocol for private smart contract execution, launched Ignition Chain on mainnet, its fully decentralized Ethereum Layer 2. The network went live with around 100 nodes and 500 active validators, marking the start of the L2’s block production that settles onto Ethereum. Ignition Chain is secured by solo stakers, who participate by running nodes, staking $AZTEC, earning block rewards, and helping coordinate block production. Running a validator on Aztec Network requires an 8-core CPU, 16 GB RAM, a 1 TB NVMe SSD, 25 Mbps bandwidth, and 200,000 staked $AZTEC tokens.

USX, a privacy-preserving “neodollar” built on Scroll and powered by LayerZero’s OFT standard, is now live. USX maintains a 1:1 redemption with USDC and offers gasless, private transactions enabled by Scroll’s ZK infrastructure and Cloak, its privacy layer. Users can hold, spend, and stake USX across DeFi starting on Scroll and Ethereum, with fiat spendability coming through EtherFi Cash.

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