Coinbase-backed Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network, is set to undergo significant upgrades to make it faster, cheaper, and more decentralized.
Jesse Pollak, the lead developer of Base, posted the network’s upgrade plans on X on May 24.
Base Targets Overhaul That Could Challenge Solana and Sui
The Coinbase executive explained that the improvements would scale Base to meet rising demand from both users and developers
According to Pollak, the team is working to reduce transaction confirmation times to 200 milliseconds and keep network fees consistently under $0.01.
Those two goals are part of a broader plan to process over 200 transactions per second in the short term. Pollak confirmed that Base ultimately aims to reach 1 million TPS.
Pollak also stressed that Base is moving toward a more decentralized architecture. The plan involves shifting key components of the protocol, such as the base state transition logic, directly onto Ethereum’s Layer 1 via smart contracts.
This change would allow multiple independent developers and validators to shape the network’s evolution.
Base is undergoing several infrastructure upgrades to support these enhancements. The goal is to make it the most scalable and user-friendly Ethereum Layer 2 network.
A central part of the upgrade is Flashblocks, a system that enables near-instant “preconfirmation blocks” to give users a faster and smoother experience. The team is already running testnet trials and expects to introduce the update on mainnet by summer 2025.
The Coinbase-backed network also intends to expand its gas throughput. Base is targeting a rise from the current 25 million gas per second (Mgas/s) to 50 Mgas/s in Q2, eventually reaching 250 Mgas/s by the end of the year. This would mark a 100-fold improvement over its original capacity.
HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the launch of the sixth phase of its Crypto Gem Hunt program. Amidst a crypto market characterized by persistent volatility, with Bitcoin fluctuating between $100,000 and $110,000, market sentiment remains largely influenced by macroeconomic policies, regulatory developments, and speculative behavior. Against this backdrop, HTX’s Crypto Gem Hunt leverages rigorous data analysis and a meticulous selection process to spotlight seven standout projects. These projects are strategically positioned for growth and demonstrate strong community engagement. The selected assets span some of today’s most dynamic sectors—including RWA/DeFi, AI, Meme, LSD, and SocialFi—and feature both promising new entrants and well-established projects that have recently outperformed broader market trends.
New Listings Shine Across a Well-Balanced Sector Mix
In May, HTX listed 23 new assets, including six stablecoins, an approach that underscores its commitment to staying at the forefront of the stablecoin trend and expanding its asset offerings. Notably, USD1 made its global debut on HTX. The token, issued by World Liberty Financial (a company backed by the Trump family), focuses on building a DeFi lending ecosystem in the United States. USD1 quickly gained traction as one of May’s most discussed projects on social media and received an S rating.
Besides USD1, two other new assets in Crypto Gem Hunt #6 have stood out:
SYRUP (Maple Finance), a key player in the RWA/DeFi sector, experienced an impressive 117.7% surge following its listing on May 8, earning an A rating. SYRUP is the native token of Maple, a decentralized lending protocol that allows users to deposit USDC, receive syrupUSDC, and earn yield. All loans are collateralized by digital assets, ensuring both strong security and sustainable returns.
KAITO, an innovator in the InfoFi/AI sector, recorded a remarkable 263.6% increase since its listing on HTX on February 23, securing an A rating. KAITO is building an AI-driven crypto information network that streamlines content distribution among creators, users, and capital. By empowering the content ecosystem, KAITO is positioning itself at the forefront of the convergence between crypto and AI.
Despite continuous shifts in market dynamics, a select group of earlier-launched projects are demonstrating remarkable resilience. Backed by strong product fundamentals and vibrant community support, they’ve recently returned to the spotlight with evolving narratives and renewed momentum, capturing the attention of both investors and users.
Two Meme projects from last September, MOODENG and NEIROCTO, serve as notable examples:
MOODENG, built on the Solana (SOL) chain, surged an incredible 961.5% and received an A rating. Inspired by the famous pygmy hippopotamus from Thailand, MOODENG’s unique design, strong community, and viral momentum propelled it to a nearly tenfold increase post-launch.
NEIROCTO (First Neiro On Ethereum) is community-driven and carries on the spirit of Doge. Since its launch on September 7, 2024, it has seen a peak increase of 235%. Through consistent operational efforts and content-driven initiatives, NEIROCTO has cultivated a highly engaged Meme community.
ETHFI (ether.fi), launched in March 2024, emerged during the boom of the LSD sector and has since recorded a 258.7% increase. With rising interest in LSD solutions within the Ethereum ecosystem, ETHFI shows strong growth potential and a solid track record.
MASK (Mask Network), launched in 2021, is a SocialFi project that recently gained 187.3%. Acting as a bridge between Web2 (traditional internet) and Web3 (decentralized internet), MASK integrates decentralized applications into mainstream social media via a browser plugin. Recent feature updates and community efforts have significantly contributed to its price recovery.
HTX Crypto Gem Hunt Empowers Users Across Market Cycles
To date, HTX has launched six rounds of its Crypto Gem Hunt program. The latest selection features not only high-growth new assets from emerging sectors but also established projects that have recently delivered strong performance. Together, these assets offer users a well-balanced portfolio—combining defensive stability with high-upside potential.
Looking ahead, HTX Crypto Gem Hunt will continue to empower users through professional, intuitive asset discovery supported by robust data and forward-looking analysis.
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.
Galaxy Digital has disclosed the sale of more than 80,000 Bitcoin—worth over $9 billion—on behalf of a long-term investor.
The transaction, revealed on July 25, is one of the largest ever executed in Bitcoin’s history.
Analysts Trace Galaxy’s $9 Billion BTC Sale to Early MyBitcoin-Era Wallet
According to Galaxy, the Bitcoin belonged to an unnamed client who acquired it during Bitcoin’s earliest days and had held the coins for more than a decade.
The firm described the move as part of the client’s estate planning, hinting at a strategic decision to realize gains after years of holding.
Galaxy Digital’s Embedded Message on Bitcoin Network. Source: Mempool
The transaction included 1 satoshi—Bitcoin’s smallest unit—being sent to each recipient address. This symbolic act captured the attention of blockchain analysts.
“if the press release isn’t on-chain, did it even really happen? this transaction is funded with 80,000 sats from a Galaxy Digital address, and pays 1 sat of dust to each of the addresses involved in the 80,000 BTC sale,” pseudonymous Bitcoin analyst Mononaunt said.
Following the disclosure, blockchain investigators traced the coins to addresses tied to MyBitcoin, one of the earliest Bitcoin wallet services. The platform shut down in 2011 after a notorious hack, leaving many coins unaccounted for.
“It likely belongs to the hacker or the anonymous founder known as Tom Williams. It seems Galaxy Digital bought the #Bitcoin from them, but I’m not sure if they did any forensics,” Ju added.
Meanwhile, market analysts also questioned the strategy behind unloading such a large amount in a single transaction.
Bloomberg’s Eric Balchunas suggested the scale of the Bitcoin sale would have caused significant slippage. He added that the urgency behind the move raised important questions about the seller’s motive.
“Have they lost faith that badly that they want to take that much money out that quickly? Unless they plan to buy the LA Lakers in cash, it seems odd/even concerning,” Bachunas questioned.
However, Eliezer Ndinga of 21Shares suggested that if Galaxy facilitated the transaction, it likely conducted stringent KYC checks, reducing the chances that the seller was an unidentified bad actor.
“It’s a behavior akin to a hacker but if that amount was processed by Galaxy I assumed they had a stringent KYC process to enable transaction to go through,” Ndinga said.
As of press time, BTC is trading above $117,000, a remarkable turnaround for a digital asset that had fallen to a multi-week low under $115,000 amid the sell-off.
Binance Alpha announced an airdrop for Redacted’s new RDAC token, making it the first platform to host the asset. RDAC fell more than 40% after the token first launched, but it has slowly recovered throughout the day.
RDAC powers Redacted’s startup accelerator ecosystem, enabling users to access a wide variety of Web3-oriented platforms. It already has staking capabilities to let holders passively reap additional rewards.
As with other recent projects, Binance Alpha attracted a lot of notoriety when it announced an airdrop for Redacted’s new RDAC token.
Binance is the first platform to feature Redacted (RDAC), with trading beginning on May 13, 2025, at 10:00 UTC.
Eligible Binance users with at least 205 Alpha points can claim an airdrop of 482 RDAC tokens on the Alpha Event page starting at 10:00 UTC on May 13, 2025.… https://t.co/7xOXmKrcBe
Redacted, a platform designed to accelerate startups across various Web3 sectors, was founded in 2021. It first launched RDAC in a closed sale this March, surpassing the firm’s $3 million funding target.
RDAC powers Redacted’s broader blockchain ecosystem, from various infrastructure platforms to staking rewards and more. These platforms offer features like cross-chain bridging, a DePIN GameFi project, marketplaces, NFT minting, etc.
Revenue from these platforms gets funneled back into the ecosystem, which attempts to maintain RDAC’s long-term sustainability.
Binance’s airdrop announcement attracted a lot of community interest, as this was the average retailer’s first opportunity to acquire RDAC.
Users can earn the asset by completing tasks within the Redacted ecosystem, like interacting with community channels. They can then stake RDAC to unlock additional benefits and rewards in addition to simply selling the token.
Crypto airdrops can frequently cause immense selling pressure, and RDAC’s Binance debut was no exception. Speculative investors quickly dumped the token, causing its value to plummet more than 50% in the first three hours.
However, it has steadily regained this ground throughout the day, displaying community interest in buying it and engaging with Redacted’s ecosystem.
Hopefully, RDAC’s quiet gains after the Binance airdrop are an encouraging sign for the ecosystem’s viability. Redacted has been constructing its startup accelerator for several years, and it has ambitious plans for the future.
A high-profile introduction like this can help set RDAC up for long-term success.
