Ethereum Foundation Announces Strategic Scaling Plan to Enhance Layer 1 Performance

The ethereum Foundation has unveiled an ambitious strategic plan aimed at scaling Layer 1, improving user experience, and maintaining robust security. Key initiatives include raising gas limits and advancing zkEVM technology. Marius van der Wijden, alongside Ansgar Dietrichs and Tim Beiko, will lead these efforts, focusing on overcoming Ethereum's current constraints while driving scalability forward. A short-term goal involves increasing the mainnet gas limit to 100 million, signaling a significant step toward enhancing network efficiency. This development underscores Ethereum's commitment to innovation and scalability, positioning it for long-term growth in the competitive blockchain landscape.

Ethereum Foundation Unveils Strategic Scaling Plan for Layer 1

The Ethereum Foundation has outlined ambitious plans to scale Layer 1, enhance user experience, and maintain robust security. Key initiatives include raising gas limits and advancing zkEVM technology. Marius van der Wijden joins Ansgar Dietrichs and Tim Beiko to lead these efforts, focusing on Ethereum's constraints while pushing scalability forward.

A short-term goal involves increasing the mainnet gas limit to 100 million per block, with recent improvements already achieving 45 million. Parithosh Jayanthi and Nethermind's PerfNet team are spearheading incremental expansions, ensuring network stability even under stress. The Berlinterop event highlighted significant performance gains, signaling readiness for further upgrades.

BitMine’s ETH Holdings Surpass $3B Amid Ethereum Rally

BitMine, a leading digital asset management firm, now holds over $3 billion in Ethereum as the cryptocurrency's price surges 6% to break above $3,600. The firm added 208,137 ETH last quarter, bringing its total holdings to 833,042 ETH—solidifying its position among the top institutional holders globally.

Ethereum's rally reflects renewed institutional confidence, driven by growing DeFi activity, anticipation of spot ETFs, and the network's roadmap for scalability. Analysts note a shift in perception—financial institutions increasingly view ETH as more than a speculative asset, recognizing its utility in smart contracts and staking ecosystems.

The New Frontier of Digital Assets: NFTs Pivot from Speculation to Utility

Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) have transcended their origins as digital art collectibles, emerging as verifiable certificates of ownership for a broad spectrum of digital assets. Built on blockchain technology, these unique tokens offer Immutable proof of authenticity, enabling secure transfers and trades without intermediaries.

The NFT market has matured significantly since its speculative peak in 2022. By September 2023, over 95% of collections held no monetary value—a sobering correction that catalyzed a shift toward functional applications. The convergence with DeFi protocols, GameFi ecosystems, and metaverse platforms now drives the sector's next growth phase.

Smart contracts underpin this evolution, creating transparent ownership records while enabling complex financial interactions. As the space moves beyond JPEG trading, projects leveraging NFTs for tangible utility—from fractionalized real-world assets to gaming interoperability standards—are attracting institutional interest.

SEC Declares Some Liquid Staking Activities Are Not Securities in Key Crypto Guidance Update

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued a pivotal clarification on liquid staking, determining that certain activities in this sector do not constitute securities offerings. This guidance marks a significant step toward regulatory clarity for the crypto market.

Liquid staking allows crypto holders to stake assets via blockchain protocols or third-party providers, receiving tokens as proof of ownership and potential rewards. The SEC's statement emphasizes that these tokens do not automatically qualify as securities, depending on the specifics of the activity.

The announcement is expected to bolster confidence in staking services, particularly for protocols involving Ethereum (ETH) and other proof-of-stake blockchains. Market participants have long awaited regulatory clarity, which could now accelerate institutional adoption of staking mechanisms.

Ethereum Price Prediction 2030: Assessing the $10K Potential

Ethereum commemorated its 10-year anniversary in July 2025, solidifying its role as the backbone of Web3 innovation. The network’s smart contract capabilities and DeFi dominance continue to attract institutional interest, with scalability upgrades like proto-danksharding fueling long-term optimism.

As of August 5, 2025, ETH trades at $3,676—a 5.2% daily gain offset by a 2.9% weekly decline. The asset recently tested resistance NEAR $3,945 before retracing, demonstrating characteristic volatility amid broader market fluctuations.

Analyst projections for 2030 span a staggering range from $5,800 to $47,000. The $10K threshold emerges as a psychological benchmark, contingent not just on technological improvements but on Ethereum’s ability to narrate its evolution as the settlement LAYER for decentralized economies.

SEC Clarifies Stance on Liquid Staking, Exempts Participants from Securities Disclosures

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued a staff statement affirming that liquid staking participants—including depositors and protocol providers—need not comply with securities law disclosures. The guidance specifically addresses arrangements where users deposit "covered crypto assets" with third-party staking providers in exchange for receipt tokens.

Liquid staking, a $67 billion sector dominated by Lido's $31.7 billion in total-value-locked, enables proof-of-stake blockchain participation while maintaining liquidity through derivative tokens. Market reaction was muted, with tokens like Lido's stETH showing marginal gains before retreating alongside broader crypto markets.

While not formal rulemaking, the statement signals regulatory thinking on an increasingly critical DeFi primitive. The SEC previously addressed other staking models in separate guidance, maintaining its case-by-case approach to crypto oversight.