Ethereum-Compatible Monad DEX Raises $11.6M to Challenge Uniswap’s AMM Dominance
Kuru Labs has successfully secured $11.6 million in a Series A funding round led by Paradigm to develop a pioneering on-chain orderbook decentralized exchange (DEX) on Monad, an Ethereum-compatible blockchain. This development aims to introduce the first fully functional on-chain central limit orderbook for the ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), potentially disrupting Uniswap's dominant automated market maker (AMM) model. The hybrid architecture of the DEX will combine a central limit orderbook with a fallback AMM, offering traders enhanced flexibility and efficiency. This funding milestone underscores the growing innovation in decentralized finance (DeFi) and the continuous evolution of Ethereum's ecosystem. As of July 2025, this project represents a significant step forward in on-chain trading infrastructure, with the potential to set new standards for DEX platforms.
Kuru Labs Secures $11.6M to Pioneer On-Chain Orderbook DEX on Monad
Kuru Labs, a startup building a decentralized exchange on Ethereum-compatible Monad, has raised $11.6 million in a Series A round led by Paradigm. The funding will accelerate development of what could be the first fully functional on-chain central limit orderbook for the EVM, challenging Uniswap's dominant AMM model.
The hybrid architecture combines a central limit orderbook with a fallback automated market maker, aiming to deliver tighter spreads while maintaining liquidity. Backers include prominent angels like Viktor Bunin and former FTX product lead Tristan Yver, signaling strong conviction in Kuru's potential to redefine DeFi infrastructure.
With Monad's mainnet launch approaching, the capital will primarily expand engineering capabilities. The vertically integrated platform includes a discovery terminal, token launchpad, and tools for both active and passive participants - positioning it as a potential liquidity hub for the next evolution of decentralized trading.
Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Proposes Gas Cap for ZK 'Endgame'
Vitalik Buterin has co-authored Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 7983, introducing a 16,777,216 gas limit on individual transactions. The change aims to enhance network stability by splitting large transactions into smaller chunks while protecting against quadratic attacks and Denial-of-Service (DoS) vulnerabilities.
The proposal aligns with Ethereum's long-term focus on zero-knowledge proof systems, particularly zk-SNARKs, which have been under development for nearly a decade. By implementing this gas cap, Ethereum could better accommodate VIRTUAL machines leveraging zero-knowledge cryptography—a critical step toward scalability and security.
Evan Van Ness, a noted Ethereum researcher, emphasized the proposal's synergy with the community's roadmap. The adjustment WOULD mark a technical refinement rather than a paradigm shift, reinforcing Ethereum's defenses while maintaining its existing per-block gas limit of approximately 36 million.
U.S. Treasury Drops Appeal Against Tornado Cash After Sanctions Removal
The U.S. Treasury Department and Coin Center have jointly agreed to end litigation surrounding Ethereum mixer Tornado Cash. The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the judgment following OFAC's March decision to lift economic sanctions against the privacy tool.
Coin Center's executive director characterized the settlement as a strategic retreat by regulators unwilling to defend their expansive interpretation of sanctions authority in court. The 2022 blacklisting had marked one of the most aggressive applications of financial restrictions against decentralized crypto infrastructure.
Crypto VC Paradigm Leads $11.6M Round for Kuru Labs’ DeFi Liquidity Engine
Kuru Labs, a decentralized finance startup building on the Monad blockchain, secured $11.6 million in Series A funding led by Paradigm. The investment will fuel development of a hybrid central-limit orderbook and automated market Maker for Monad, a high-performance Ethereum-compatible chain.
The funding round attracted participation from prominent angel investors including Viktor Bunin and Zagabond. Kuru Labs aims to create Monad's premier liquidity hub, combining orderbook trading with decentralized exchange functionality while maintaining composability across DeFi applications.
Paradigm's continued support signals confidence in Monad's potential to scale Ethereum's virtual machine. The venture firm previously led Monad's $225 million funding round in 2023, positioning the blockchain as a contender in the race for Ethereum scalability solutions.
US Court Overturns Tornado Cash Sanctions, Orders Case Dismissal
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals vacated a 2023 ruling that upheld Treasury sanctions against Ethereum-based privacy mixer Tornado Cash, instructing the Northern District of Florida to dismiss the case. This marks the end of Coin Center v. Yellen, the last remaining legal challenge to OFAC's 2022 designation of the protocol.
The appellate mandate creates a circuit split with the Fifth Circuit's Van Loon v. Treasury decision, which found smart-contract code cannot be sanctioned as property. The Treasury Department declined to appeal that ruling, instead opting for more targeted tools to address illicit crypto flows.
With no parties signaling plans for Supreme Court review, the dismissal effectively concludes this chapter of regulatory scrutiny over privacy-focused crypto tools. The development highlights ongoing tensions between financial surveillance and decentralized technology.
Ethereum Explodes with $148M Inflows—Will Bulls Smash the $2,610 Barrier
Ethereum is reclaiming momentum as institutional investors pour $148 million into the asset, marking the fourth-largest weekly inflow of 2025. The surge reflects growing confidence in Ethereum's long-term value, despite broader market caution.
The unveiling of Ethereum's "Giga Era" roadmap has further fueled bullish sentiment. Technological ambitions and institutional backing are converging, setting the stage for a potential breakout above the $2,610 resistance level.
