• Coinbase unveils x402 payment protocol.

• ZKsync is fully EVM Equivalent.

• Paradigm introduces Across Prime.

• Chainlink introduces a rewards program.

Coinbase introduced x402, an open-source payment protocol that enables onchain stablecoin transactions over HTTP using the HTTP 402 "Payment Required" status code. x402 turns the status code into a functional onchain payment mechanism, enabling frictionless, pay-per-use payments for APIs, AI agents, compute, and content. When a client requests a premium resource, the server responds with 402 Payment Required and includes onchain payment details. The client then pays by sending a signed stablecoin transaction via an HTTP header. The server then fulfills the request upon verifying the payment. Developers can now integrate x402 with minimal code, using existing HTTP infrastructure.

ZKsync is now fully EVM-equivalent at the bytecode level, allowing developers to deploy existing Ethereum smart contracts on ZKsync without code changes or recompilation. Standard Ethereum tools like solc, foundry, and hardhat now work out of the box for smart contract development and deployments on ZKsync Era. EVM equivalence was introduced in ZKsync Era protocol version 27 (ZIP-9) via a new EVM Bytecode Interpreter. The interpreter allows EVM bytecode to run on ZKsync's native EraVM without altering its core execution model. No zk-specific compilers are required. ZKsync plans to expand this capability across the Elastic Chain network.

Paradigm released a white paper for Across Prime, a new capital-efficient, trustless, fast bridge model designed to improve upon existing intent-based bridges. Co-authored by Hart Lambur, Dan Robinson, Matt Rice, and the Across Protocol team, the paper proposes a solution to the fair exchange problem in cross-chain bridging. Across Prime introduces a bonded model in place of the traditional escrow-based design. In the bond model, users pay relayers directly, with the transaction secured by a relayer's bond. Each relayer posts a bond for a specific origin-to-destination route. A Turnstile contract on the origin chain enforces security by ensuring the bond covers all active (unfulfilled) intents. A corresponding Fulfillment contract on the destination chain tracks completed orders. The system uses Merkle roots to maintain consistency between chains and is fully compatible with the ERC-7683 crosschain intents standard.

Chainlink launched a new community rewards program enabling LINK Stakers to earn tokens from Chainlink Build projects, which are startups and protocols supported through the Chainlink Build accelerator. Rewards are distributed based on a combination of time-weighted average LINK staking and fixed allocations for both historical and active LINK stakers.

• Ethstaker Pectra watch party

• Uniswap Apps go live on Soneium

• Unichain on fair sequencing

• FinCEN statement on Samourai Wallet

• FS market structure bill

• ENS Domains turns 8

• Lens Spring Hackathon

• Holograph introduces 2.0

• Vaults FYI supports World Chain

• Polynomial derivatives roadmap

• Q/acc introduces points

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

• Vitalik proposes simplifying Ethereum L1.

• Unichain enables its TEE-based builder.

• Google Wallet leverages ZKPs.

• CCTP V2 goes live on Arbitrum.

Vitalik Buterin published a blog post outlining a vision to simplify Ethereum’s Layer 1 to be as minimal and understandable as Bitcoin within the next five years. He argues that protocol simplicity brings significant long-term benefits: it makes Ethereum easier to understand, reduces infrastructure and maintenance costs, lowers the risk of critical bugs, and fosters broader participation. To simplify the consensus layer, Vitalik proposes replacing epochs with a streamlined 3-slot finality mechanism, reducing the number of active validators, using STARK-based aggregation, and reworking validator lifecycle mechanics. On the execution side, Vitalik suggests replacing the bloated EVM with a simpler and more efficient virtual machine like RISC-V or Cairo. Vitalik also recommends using a unified erasure code across various protocol layers, adopting SSZ as a common serialization format, and transitioning to a shared binary Merkle tree for both execution and consensus. Vitalik emphasizes that the changes may sacrifice short-term convenience, but they will result in a more resilient and secure Ethereum in the long run.

Unichain enabled its Trusted Execution Environment (TEE)-based builder for block building and transaction ordering. The activation enhances transparency, MEV protection, revert protection, and provides users with encrypted mempools. Transaction ordering is based solely on priority fees and occurs within a verifiable TEE. The implementation is powered by Rollup-Boost, a verifiable block-building platform co-developed by Uniswap Labs and Flashbots. The milestone prepares Unichain for Flashblocks, which are 200ms sub-blocks that improve app latency and user experience, enabled via Rollup-Boost infrastructure.

Google Wallet is now leveraging Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology for privacy-preserving age verification. ZKPs allow users to prove they meet an age requirement without revealing full personal identity details. The ZKPs will power age checks across mobile devices, apps, and websites using Google’s Digital Credential API. The first implementation will be with Bumble, using Google Wallet digital IDs to verify identity and ZKPs for age verification. Future use cases include account recovery and accessing healthcare services.

CCTP V2, the latest version of Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol, is now live on Arbitrum, enabling fast, secure, and capital-efficient USDC transfers using a burn-and-mint model, without relying on liquidity pools. The CCTP V2 upgrade introduces smart contract hooks for post-transfer actions. Arbitrum now joins Ethereum, Base, Avalanche, and Linea as supported CCTP V2 chains.

• Morpho launches Morpho Lite

• Pectra P2P metrics dashboard

• Obol DVs 500k ETH staked

• Circles UBI launching May 21st

• Discussion: Shorter vs faster block times

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

• Aztec Network goes live on testnet.

• Ethereum R1 introduces its neutral rollup.

Aztec Network is now live on public testnet, allowing developers to build fully private applications on Ethereum using the Aztec Playground. Users can also participate as sequencers or provers on the testnet. This launch marks a major milestone on Aztec’s path to mainnet. Aztec is a privacy-first protocol enabling client-side private smart contract execution with public verifiability. Its contracts combine private functions executed locally with public functions processed by the decentralized Aztec Network. Since launch, the testnet has seen over 20,000 users and 10 new apps live on the network.

Ethereum R1 introduced its general-purpose Layer 2 rollup designed to serve as Ethereum-native public infrastructure. The rollup will launch at Stage 2 from day one, featuring permissionless proving, long upgrade delays, and a broadly distributed community multisig. Built on Nethermind’s Surge stack and based on open-source code from Taiko, Ethereum R1 will allocate a 1% base fee to the Taiko DAO until 2030, after which, all sequencer fees will be burned. The project is committed to being tokenless and VC-free with no token, no private sales, and no foundation. Instead, Ethereum R1 aims to be fully funded by public ETH donations.

• ACDC #156 summary

• BUIDL surpasses $33m in dividends

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