• Coinbase plans to suspend WBTC trading.

• Zerion launches an XP program.

• MetaMask releases extension v12.6.

• ethOS introduces an App Store.

Coinbase announced it will suspend trading for WBTC, the largest wrapped Bitcoin ERC-20 token on Ethereum, on its centralized exchange. Trading will cease on December 19, 2024, at approximately 12 PM ET. Coinbase has also transitioned WBTC order books to limit-only mode. The Wrapped BTC team expressed regret over the decision. Notably, in September, Coinbase introduced its own wrapped Bitcoin token, cbBTC, an ERC-20 asset backed 1:1 by Bitcoin held by Coinbase. Initially launched on Base and Ethereum, cbBTC has since expanded to Arbitrum. cbBTC currently has a market cap of $1.4 billion, compared to WBTC’s $13 billion.

Zerion, the portfolio tracker and wallet provider behind ZERO Network, introduced an XP program allowing over 10 million wallets to claim XP points based on wallet activity. Eligible criteria include metrics like gas spend and ownership of an Onchain DNA NFT. Additional XP can be earned for executing swaps, TVL held on ZERO Network, Gas Back rewards, and completing featured quests. Users can also migrate their Zerion Onchain DNA to ZERO Network. Onchain DNA serves as a spam filter, effectively distinguishing transactions made by real users from bots. Users on Zerion's mobile app and browser extension wallet can execute gas-free transactions on ZERO Network. Disclosure: ETH Daily is a participant in Zerion’s featured quests.

MetaMask, the leading Ethereum wallet with over 30 million monthly active users, launched MetaMask Extension v12.6, introducing two major features: Gas Station and Chain Permissions. Gas Station allows users to swap tokens without requiring native ETH for gas fees, as the fees are automatically included in the swap quote. Chain Permissions simplify multichain interactions by enabling users to sign transactions on any permitted network without manually approving network switches. Permissions are granted during the initial connection to a dapp and can be managed at any time. The new release also improves RPC URL management.

Ethereum-native mobile operating system provider ethOS announced plans for a native App Store coming to its dGEN1 hardware device in Spring 2025. The app store will feature a native wallet experience and zero in-app transaction fees for applications. dGEN1 is a dedicated device with a separate screen for displaying transaction notifications and metadata, a web3 browser, a system-level wallet, and native ENS support.

• Noble raises $15 million

• Caldera introduces Policy Engine

• Brazil’s central bank uses Chainlink

• Introducing ABC: Gigagas Rollup Stack

• Trump considers Teresa Goody Guillén for SEC

• The EF introduces an internship program.

• ENS Labs introduces Namechain.

• Virgil Griffith release update.

• RISC Zero introduces Kailua.

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) announced its first formal internship program, set to begin in summer 2025. Aspiring Ethereum developers and researchers can apply until December 9, 2024, for a chance to work on projects ranging from protocol security, account abstraction, scaling research, and client development, over 12 weeks. Unlike the Ethereum Protocol Fellowship (EPF), the internship program is tailored for individuals with a general skill set seeking to deepen their knowledge of Ethereum, rather than requiring advanced protocol expertise. Mentoring teams include the Protocol Security Research Team, Robust Incentives Group, Portal Network Team, Geth, and the EEST Project.

At last week’s frENSday conference, ENS Labs unveiled Namechain, a zkEVM-based Layer 2 solution designed to enhance cost efficiency, performance, and the developer experience for ENS. Namechain will integrate with an existing EVM-compatible ZK Stack chain and is expected to launch on mainnet in 2025. Namechain is a key component of ENSv2, a comprehensive five-phase strategy to upgrade the protocol's architecture. The overhaul will migrate primary .eth domains to Layer 2, introduce new core ENS contracts for both Layer 1 and Layer 2, deploy ENS core infrastructure on Layer 2, and synchronize the new contracts with the legacy system. While domain registrations and renewals will move to Layer 2, name resolution will remain anchored on Ethereum’s Layer 1.

ENS General Counsel Alexander Urbelis provided an update on Virgil Griffith’s situation and anticipated release. In addition to his role at ENS, Urbelis is part of the legal team representing Griffith, an Ethereum developer arrested in 2019 and sentenced to 63 months for delivering Ethereum-related presentations in North Korea. In July 2024, Griffith's sentence was reduced by 10 months. While this brought him closer to release, complications arose when he selected Baltimore as his halfway house. Griffith will be released by April 2025 at the latest, when his full sentence is scheduled to conclude, though his legal team continues to work toward a sooner release.

RISC Zero introduced Kailua, a hybrid rollup solution that merges the cost-efficiency and high throughput of Optimistic Rollups with the fast finality of ZK Rollups. Kailua enables chains to achieve configurable settlement times of under an hour. It introduces an innovative proposer/challenger model powered by the OP Stack’s Kona suite and a dispute resolution protocol using RISC Zero proofs.

• On blob markets and base fees

• Hasu’s proposal to grow Lido staking

• Péter Szilágyi takes a sabbatical

• Espresso preconfs live on Gelato

• ETHPrague announced for May 2025

• Tally governance staking era

• Starknet data efficient

• Apply to be a Swell delegate

• $1b USDT issued

• Ethereum Foundation releases its 2024 report.

• Fileverse releases a Devcon Collab Portal.

• Blockscout launches a Merits Program.

• Puffer Finance launches UniFi on tetsnet.

The Ethereum Foundation published its 2024 report, outlining its non-profit role in supporting the Ethereum ecosystem through funding, development, and education. Guided by three core values—long-term thinking, subtraction, and stewardship of open-source values—the EF aims to enable sustainable ecosystem growth. The report details spending allocations and treasury holdings, noting that the EF allocated $105.4M in 2022 and $134.9M in 2023 across internal teams and broader ecosystem initiatives. The EF’s treasury stands at $970 million, with the majority held in ETH. The report also highlights a conflict of interest policy, which sets guidlines for EF members to manage and disclose conflicts.

Fileverse, an onchain file-sharing platform, launched the Devcon Collab Portal, a community hub for Devcon SEA attendees to build and access a communal knowledge base. The hub enables users to create posts, message other attendees directly, browse talks, submit resources, and explore details about Devcon community hubs. With support for decentralized identities like ENS, users can easily connect and interact with each other while retaining control over their digital identity. Fileverse offers a range of tools for managing onchain files, including uploading, sharing, setting privacy options, and making files accessible through IPFS.

Blockscout launched the Blockscout Merits Program, a gamified reward program aiming to incentivize user engagement in open-source, decentralized block exploration. Users can earn "Merits" by completing daily tasks, joining campaigns, using Blockscout tools like Swapscout, and referring friends. In addition to Merits, users can earn NFT Badges with varying rarities, awarded for special achievements. The badges can be displayed in the Merits Dashboard and can be traded in secondary markets. Blocksout plans to introduce a leaderboard and partner campaigns, aiming to help users learn and explore Blockscout.

Puffer Finance launched UniFi, its Layer 2 based rollup solution, on testnet, initially open to builders. UniFi provides sub-second transaction speeds and near instant asset withdrawals. As a based rollup, it uses Ethereum L1 validators for transaction sequencing. In its mainnet release, Puffer plans to introduce atomic composability, allowing users to execute instant cross-layer interactions between L1 and L2 within a single Ethereum block.

• Sky keeps SKY brand 

• Multilane sequencing model

• SNARKifying the Ethereum Protocol

• Devcon distributes waitlist tickets

• ETH ETFs $79m net inflows

• Eclipse goes live on mainnet

• Jed's blog on Infinex journey