• Uniswap launches Uni V4.

• Ƒlaunch launches on Base.

• Lido’s CSM goes permissionless.

• UBS tests a ZKsync Validium.

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Uniswap launched Uni V4, the latest iteration of its DEX, introducing hooks for enhanced customizability. Uni V4 is now live on ten networks, including Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, OP Mainnet, Base, and World Chain. Users can now deposit liquidity into v4 pools through the Uniswap web app, while swap functionality will roll out in the coming days as liquidity migrates to v4. Hooks are smart contracts that enable custom functionality for liquidity pools, allowing for features like native dynamic fees, onchain limit orders, and time-weighted average market maker (TWAMM) orders. Uni V4 also introduces gas optimizations, making pool creation and multi-hop swaps significantly cheaper. Uniswap v4 underwent nine audits and a $2.35 million security competition.

Ƒlaunch, one of the first protocols powered by Uniswap V4, is now live on Base. Ƒlaunch enables anyone to launch, buy, and sell meme coins. The platform features automated buybacks and an internal swap pool (ISP) that pays LPs in ETH, reducing coin sell pressure. It also leverages Uniswap v4 hooks to lend liquidity on Aave. Flaunch introduces Fixed Price Fair Launches, preventing early price manipulation, and allows developers to customize revenue sharing configurations. Revenue ownership is tokenized as NFTs that can be transferred or sold. Other protocols leveraging Univ4 include onchain markets platforms Sorella Labs and Whetstone Research.

Lido’s Community Staking Module (CSM) is now permissionless, allowing any solo staker, DAO, or DVT cluster to run validators through the Lido Protocol. The module lowers the barrier for stakers by allowing participation with a collateral stake of 2.4 ETH for the first validator and 1.3 ETH for additional validators. The Node Operator cap has also been removed. Operators using CSM can earn higher rewards compared to traditional solo staking. A key component of the Lido CSM is the Staking Router, a controller contract designed to integrate modular validator pools. Over 330 independent node operators have joined the Lido CSM.

UBS, Switzerland’s largest bank, tested a ZKsync Validium for its UBS Key4 Gold proof of concept, a tokenized fractional gold investment product. The bank leveraged a ZKsync Validium for its scalability, privacy, and interoperability, benefiting from ultra-low-cost transactions with offchain data storage enables by the Validium. The test involved gold token issuance, transaction processing, and reconciliation, aiming to explore whether Validium could enhance UBS' existing private blockchain, the UBS Gold Network. In December 2024, German bank Deutsche Bank revealed developments of its own Layer-2 network built on ZKsync’s ZK Stack.

• Coinbase acquires Spindl

• Vitalik turns 31

• Ethereum ecosystem recap

• Chainlink SVR analysis

• Protocol Guild contributes 619 years

• Accidental Computer: DA encodings

• Ether Strategy cancels fundraise

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• Geth v1.14.13 emergency release.

• SEC approves combined ETF.

• Apollo tokenized RWA fund.

• Bolt launches mainnet genesis.

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Geth released v1.14.13 of its execution client to fix a vulnerability introduced in v1.14.0, which can cause nodes to crash via a specially crafted message. Users running Geth v1.14 or later must update their software as soon as possible. Nodes running on v1.13.x are unaffected. The vulnerability also affects L2s, so L2 clients must also update their software. The bug was initially discovered and reported by the Polygon security team. The Geth team will release in-depth details at a later time.

The SEC approved the Bitwise Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF filed by the NYSE Arca exchange. The ETF will hold both Bitcoin and Ethereum based on their relative market capitalizations. Bitwise will hold spot Bitcoin and ETH, which will be custodied by the Coinbase Custody Trust and the Bank of New York Mellon. The SEC approved the proposal on an accelerated basis due to the proposal's similarity to previously approved spot crypto ETFs. A spot ETF offers investors exposure to crypto without having to hold assets directly.  The move signifies another step toward institutional adoption. The SEC is open to public input on the approval decision. 

Apollo, a global asset manager with over $700 billion in AUM, introduced the Apollo Diversified Credit Securitize Fund (ACRED), a tokenized Real World Asset (RWA) offering onchain access to its Diversified Credit Fund. ACRED invests capital across corporate direct lending, asset-backed lending, and structured credit. The tokenized fund is available across six blockchains, including Ethereum, Polygon, and Kraken’s Ink L2. Cross-chain token transfers will be facilitated through Wormhole. Investors can participate in ACRED exclusively via the Securitize platform.

Bolt launched its validator-based proposer commitments protocol to Mainnet Genesis, enabling node operators to register in the Bolt Registry and link their Symbiotic Vault or EigenLayer Strategy to Bolt’s Actively Validated Service (AVS). Proposer commitments allow validators to make credible guarantees on the transactions they include in their blocks, ensuring users receive near-instant, guaranteed inclusion for their L1 transactions. Validators benefit from higher priority fees while remaining PBS-compatible, with their commitments backed by restaked collateral through Symbiotic and EigenLayer. The Bolt Registry directly maps each validator to a specific Node Operator, meaning operators and validators share collateral, faults, and slashing risks. Bolt Protocol plans to launch to Mainnet Alpha by the end of Q1 2025.

• ACDE #204 recap 

• Introducing Ethereum FABRIC

• Vitalik on beam chain roadmap

• Agentic Ethereum $175k prize pool

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• Morpho expands to multiple chains.

• L2Beat clarifies Stage 1 rollup criteria.

• Fileverse releases updates for dDocs.

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Morpho, a base infrastructure layer for lending applications, expanded its Morpho Stack—a suite of smart contracts—across Polygon POS, Arbitrum, Optimism, Scroll, Ink, World Chain, and Fraxtal as part of its multichain strategy. The deployment includes Morpho Vaults 1.1, Oracles, the Universal Rewards Distributor, and key infrastructure components. Developers can leverage Morpho’s infrastructure to build customized lending and borrowing applications, as seen with Moonwell and Morpho Blue. Morpho allows developers to set custom risk parameter configurations. Morpho Blue is the protocol’s native lending platform and the largest lending protocol on Base by TVL.

L2Beat proposed changes to its Stage 1 rollup decentralization criteria, focusing on upgrade powers and exit mechanisms. The updated requirements clarify that a Stage 1 rollup can only indefinitely block an L2→L1 message or push an invalid L2→L1 message if at least 75% of the Security Council is compromised. To meet Stage 1, rollups must either implement a forced transaction mechanism or allow a Security Council minority (<25%) to enforce censorship resistance. Under the refined definition, OP Mainnet, ZKSync Era, and Starknet no longer qualify as Stage 1 in their current form. L2Beat is providing a 6-month transition period for projects to adjust before implementing the changes. OP Mainnet noted that it will upgrade accordingly.

Onchain file-sharing platform Fileverse released its first 2025 update for dDocs, its end-to-end encrypted, privacy-preserving word processing tool. The latest update introduces PDF export support, page break shortcuts, custom zoom, and auto-suggested titles. dDocs enables both public and private document creation, with content stored on IPFS.

• Ethresearch: Blob Aggregation

• Hyperdrive announces points program

• Prysm: Faster blob propagation

• Univ4 deployment

• Privy automated bridging

• Fed pauses rate hikes

• D3 raises $25 million

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