Base Network’s Stage 1 Upgrade Strengthens Ethereum’s Layer 2 Ecosystem
Base Network, Coinbase’s Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution, has achieved a significant milestone by advancing to Stage 1, marking progress in decentralization and security. This upgrade is a crucial step for EVM roll-ups, enhancing the overall Ethereum ecosystem.
Base Network Advances to Stage 1 Upgrade, Bolstering Ethereum Layer 2 Ecosystem
Base Network, the Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution backed by Coinbase, has reached a pivotal development milestone by transitioning from Stage 0 to Stage 1. This upgrade underscores the protocol’s progress in decentralization and transaction security, key benchmarks for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) roll-ups.
The protocol now meets critical criteria, including the establishment of a functional security council and a robust fraud-prevention framework. Data from L2Beat confirms the council’s ability to uphold proof-system integrity, with oversight from at least five external agents beyond its CORE team.
Securitize and Gauntlet Launch Tokenized Real-World Asset Initiative
Dubai-based Securitize and DeFi specialist Gauntlet are collaborating to tokenize Apollo’s $1 billion Diversified Credit Fund, marking a significant step in bridging traditional finance with the crypto ecosystem. The initiative, centered on the Apollo Diversified Credit Securitize Fund (ACRED), will debut on Polygon before expanding to Ethereum and other platforms.
A Leveraged yield strategy on Compound Blue—a Morpho-backed lending protocol—will anchor the offering, targeting institutional investors seeking fixed-income alternatives. The move underscores growing demand for real-world asset tokenization, with Apollo’s credit fund serving as a high-profile test case for scalability.
Ethereum Researcher Proposes 100x Scaling Plan to Secure Network’s Future
Ethereum faces existential risks if it fails to achieve significant scaling within the next decade, warns Dankrad Feist, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation. The network’s relevance in the blockchain ecosystem could diminish without immediate action.
Feist’s solution comes in the form of EIP-7938, a radical proposal to increase Ethereum’s gas limit by 100x over four years. This upgrade would dramatically expand transaction capacity per block, addressing one of Ethereum’s most pressing constraints.
The urgency stems from competing Layer 1 chains gaining market share while Ethereum struggles with throughput limitations. Feist’s unconventional approach reflects the network’s need for bold solutions to maintain its dominant position in smart contract platforms.
Cryptocurrency Market Faces Turbulence as May Developments Shake Up Prices
The cryptocurrency market braces for volatility in May, with macroeconomic data, regulatory scrutiny, and technical upgrades poised to drive price action. Ethereum’s upcoming protocol update dominates investor attention, while U.S. labor market reports could trigger cross-asset turbulence.
Over $500 million in token unlocks across projects like AVA, ENA, and DYM may test market liquidity. Exchange flows suggest institutional players are repositioning ahead of the Federal Reserve’s rate decision, with Binance and Coinbase order books showing heightened ETH accumulation.