1. ETH’s Weekly Summary

a. Ethereum Foundation Announces Academic Grants for 2023.

On June 29th, the Ethereum Foundation announced its academic grant program for 2023, providing funding of over $2 million to 43 projects across various categories including cryptography, MEV (Miner Extractable Value), execution layer, security, and more. The foundation received over 250 applications in total.

b. Ethereum Foundation Launches Devconnect Istanbul Scholars Program.

On June 27th, the Ethereum Foundation announced the launch of its inaugural Devconnect Istanbul Scholars Program. The program aims to provide financial support to talented individuals from underrepresented communities in terms of geography and population in the Ethereum ecosystem, enabling them to attend the Devconnect event in Istanbul in November. The application deadline for the program is July 23, 2023.

c. Summary of the Ethereum All Core Developers Execution Call.

On June 24th, according to Christine Kim’s summary of the 164th Ethereum All Core Developers Meeting (ACDE), the main topics discussed were the progress of the Cancun upgrade, a dedicated execution client testing framework for EIP code modifications, and a proposal regarding the separation of Ethereum Request for Comments (ERC) from EIPs.

Regarding the progress of the Cancun upgrade, developers have agreed to update the precompile address of EIP 4844. Test cases for EVM instruction COPYCODESIZE (EIP 5656) have been added to the testing framework. There have been some changes to the Engine API responsible for communication between the consensus and execution layers. Devnet 6 has been stabilized with bug fixes, and Devnet 7, focusing on testing related to EIP 4844, is scheduled to be launched.

d. Summary of the Ethereum All Core Developers Consensus Call.

On July 1st, according to the summary provided by Christine Kim, Vice President of Research at Galaxy Digital, regarding the 112th All Core Developers Consensus Meeting (ACDC), the main topics discussed were as follows: modifications related to the Engine API, responsible for communication between CL and EL clients, including the rewriting flag for the builder; Devnet7 will raise the “target blob limit” and “maximum blob limit” from 2 to 3 and from 4 to 6 respectively, in order to test the network capacity for handling large blocks; Goerli testnet is planned to be phased out by the end of the year, and it will be replaced by Holesky, a new testnet with a larger set of active validators; a proposal to increase the effective balance of Ethereum validators in order to automatically compound staking rewards.

2. Expansion of ENS into the Layer 2 Ecosystem Planned.

On June 30th, the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) announced its plans to expand into the Layer 2 ecosystem, aiming to achieve interoperability with ENS domains on Layer 2 solutions. The team considers this expansion to be a significant upgrade for the future, with the goal of making domain name registration and trading more accessible to a wider user base. The plan involves leveraging off-chain resolvers and utilizing ENS off-chain registration contracts and various service providers such as cb.id, Lens Protocol, and OptiNames. Additionally, this year will see the introduction of trading DNS domains as NFTs on the Ethereum blockchain, with the expectation of supporting “gasless” domain imports by the end of the year.

3. Base, the Coinbase Layer 2 Network, Announces Completion of Internal and External Security Audits.

On June 30th, Coinbase’s Layer 2 network, Base, announced the completion of both internal and external security audits, meeting four-fifths of the criteria required for mainnet launch. The only remaining task is to demonstrate the stability of the testnet. Base is built on the OP Stack and has been running its testnet since February 23rd, with no plans for token issuance at this stage.

4. zkSync: Enhancements to Codebase for Easier Configuration and Deployment of ZK Stack Instances.

On June 26th, zkSync announced that they will be making modifications to their codebase in the coming weeks to make the configuration and deployment of ZK Stack instances easier, with the ultimate goal of achieving one-click deployment. zkSync is actively assisting multiple pilot projects in adopting ZK Stack. ZK Stack is an open-source code based on Era, which serves as a modular framework for building sovereign ZK chains.

5. Launch of dYdX Chain Public Testnet Scheduled for July 5th.

On June 29th, the public testnet of dYdX Chain is scheduled to launch on July 5th, 2023, at 17:00 UTC. Some of the features that will be tested upon release include wallet connectivity, order book viewing, placing market orders, and viewing account information. Initially, these features will only be available for the Bitcoin and Ethereum markets. The goal is to launch the mainnet in September.

6. Horizen to Discontinue Main Chain Shielded Pool, ZEN No Longer Considered a Privacy Coin.

On June 28th, Horizen announced the approval of ZenIP 42204, which entails the removal of all privacy features from the consensus level of the Horizen mainchain. The official blog stated that this change means ZEN will no longer be a privacy coin, aiming to eliminate technical debt and mitigate regulatory risks.

7. Worldcoin Announces Integration with Okta, Expanding its Identity Protocol World ID to Germany.

On June 29th, Worldcoin announced its integration with Okta and the expansion of its identity protocol, World ID, to Germany. Users will be able to utilize custom-designed hardware that incorporates biometric data for comprehensive verification. The sales of this hardware will commence nationwide, starting in Berlin. According to data from the World App, Worldcoin currently has 1.9 million users across 30 countries.

8. Magic Eden Partners with Helio to Launch Multi-Chain NFT Presale Platform for Creators.

On June 30th, the NFT marketplace Magic Eden announced its collaboration with Helio to launch a multi-chain NFT presale platform for creators. This platform will be fully integrated into the Magic Eden website. Creators and collectors will benefit from early access through supporter participation, a seamless user experience, and multi-chain support for ETH, SOL, and MATIC. The pre-mint community will also enhance the presale experience through optimization efforts.

9. ChatGPT Plugin Now Live on the Hedera Network.

On June 25th, according to Cointelegraph, the ChatGPT plugin has been launched on the Hedera network, enabling integration with blockchain. The plugin allows users to view the balance of Hedera accounts through web browsers or mirror node APIs, simplifying asset monitoring and management. This integration leverages blockchain technology to verify the source and integrity of AI-generated content, ensuring reliability. Users can engage in micro-transactions, access premium content, and participate in tokenized economies. Additionally, the plugin provides opportunities for decentralized application development.

10. PancakeSwap’s Weekly Summary

a. PancakeSwap Integrates with MoonPay, Enabling Credit Card, Debit Card, and Bank Transfer Purchases of Cryptocurrencies.

On June 27th, Pancakeswap announced its integration with the cryptocurrency payment platform MoonPay. This integration enables users to seamlessly purchase cryptocurrencies using credit cards, debit cards, or bank transfers. Supported tokens include ETH, USDC, DAI, BNB, and BUSD.

b. PancakeSwap v3 Officially Launches on Polygon zkEVM Mainnet Testnet.

n June 30th, PancakeSwap v3 was officially launched on the Polygon zkEVM mainnet test version. This release introduces v3 swaps and liquidity provision, allowing users to seamlessly trade tokens and directly participate in providing liquidity on the platform. Additionally, it lowers transaction fees, increases network throughput, and initiates the “Crossing Treasure Island” Galxe event.