The Protocol: Ethereum Proposal That Could Make the Network Faster

In this issue:

Ethereum Developer Proposes 6-Second Block Times to Boost Speed
ZKsync’s Airbender zkVM Proves Ethereum Blocks in 35 Seconds
Norway Plans Ban on New Crypto Mining Data Centers
XRP Ledger Brings Token Escrow, Other Upgrades for DEXs in New Release

Network news

In Other News

Strategy (MSTR) is currently experiencing its lowest 10-day realized volatility since it first added bitcoin {BTC} to its balance sheet in 2020, according to Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise Asset Management. Realized volatility refers to the actual historical movement of an asset’s price over a specific period, in this case ten days. It is calculated using past price data and indicates how much the price has fluctuated in reality, as opposed to how much it is expected to fluctuate in the future. In addition to subdued historical price swings, MSTR’s implied volatility (IV) currently sits at 48.33 percent, which is among the lowest levels recorded for the stock in recent years. In addition to subdued historical price swings, MSTR’s implied volatility (IV) currently sits at 48.33 percent, which is among the lowest levels recorded for the stock in recent years. — James Van Straten Read more.
Crypto exchange Coinbase (COIN) remains one of the most misunderstood companies in the digital assets space, Wall Street broker Bernstein said in a research report. Bernstein raised its Coinbase price target to $510 from $310, and reiterated its “outperform” rating on the stock. The shares Wednesday morning were more than 4% higher at around $360 in early trading. While broader sentiment leans bearish, Coinbase is cementing its role as crypto’s “universal bank,” and is bridging retail, institutional, and on-chain infrastructure at a scale unmatched by peers, the report said. — Will Canny Read more.

Regulatory and Policy

Top U.S. senators have shared an outline of rules for domestic crypto markets, releasing a set of principles as they prepare to further hash out their intentions in an afternoon hearing. The crypto industry is excited about the recent progress of stablecoin legislation, but the legislation to set up the structure of fully regulated crypto activity is what the sector is most urgently awaiting. The chairman and three other Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee offered this framework, representing half of the team that would need to eventually clear a bill, which also must pass through the Senate Agriculture Committee. — Jesse Hamilton Read more.
Texas has become the first U.S. state to create a publicly-funded, stand-alone bitcoin reserve after Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 21 into law over the weekend. The bill directs the state to establish a bitcoin reserve managed independently from the main treasury, joining a small but growing group of states exploring digital asset reserves. Unlike Arizona and New Hampshire, which passed similar legislation, Texas did not just authorize the reserve but is actively funding it. The state will be appropriating $10 million in order to purchase bitcoin for the reserve. — Tom Carreras Read more.