Ethereum Adoption is About dApp Network Effect, Not Users 6447

Martin Köppelmann, the creator of decentralized marketplace Gnosis, has said that the adoption of Ethereum should be measured by the network effect of decentralized applications (dApps), not the number of users on the blockchain network. As a decentralized computing platform, the Ethereum blockchain network enables dApps and users to process data in a peer-to-peer and distributed manner. Users on Ethereum are not required to trust any intermediary on the network to initiate transactions or carry out operations with dApps.

Köppelmann, who created a major decentralized marketplace that has been competing against Augur, said that the adoption of Ethereum should be measured by the network effect of dApps and the ability of dApps to use the smart contracts of other applications on Ethereum to process information.

“The best metric of success for Ethereum is not how many DAPPs are deployed or how many transactions those DAPPs have. It is about how many DAPPs are created and used that use smart contracts from other dApps,” he explained.

As an example, decentralized exchange protocol 0x is a base layer which supports decentralized exchanges and relayers launched on the blockchain. The Ethereum-based 0x protocol is leveraged by a wide range of digital asset trading platforms such as Radar Relay, Paradex, Melonport, Maker, imToken, Aragon, and Augur, all of which use the 0x protocol to allow users to trade digital assets in a decentralized manner.

Coinbase co-founder and former Goldman Sachs trader Fred Ehrsam stated that protocols that enable dApps to share smart contracts and leverage the functionalities of other platforms on Ethereum allow for the creation of an ecosystem wherein users can benefit from the compatibility of dApps across a wide network.

For instance, because 0x protocol enables decentralized exchanges to operate on its base layer, potentially, exchanges can share a pool of liquidity that allows users across various decentralized exchanges to trade digital assets in a shared environment.

Köppelmann said:

“Few examples from Gnosis context: DutchX uses the MakerDAO price oracle; the 0x token registry and will be itself controlled by a Daostack DAO. Melonport uses Oasisdex… but many more are coming.”

If base layers like 0x and dApps such as OasisDEX and MakerDAO that offer specific functionalities that are beneficial to dApps in other categories continue to see an improvement on their network effect, a decentralized network of dApps will form, allowing many applications and platforms on Ethereum to benefit from each other’s unique and innovative solutions.

In essence, Köppelmann stated that the increase in the network effect and interconnectedness of dApps will be the main contributor to the mainstream adoption and long-term growth of Ethereum.

How About Users?

The number of users of dApps is an important metric but is a number that will naturally increase as the network effect of dApps, scalability of Ethereum, and user interface of dApps continue to demonstrate exponential growth and improvement.

If utilizing dApps to create bets on platforms like Gnosis and Augur, and using computing power of decentralized cloud networks like Storj become as easy as using centralized alternatives, then the active number of users on Ethereum will inevitably increase.

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$40M in Rewards. $3.7M Liquidity. Cedar Is Launching on Solana 1553

One of the most anticipated launches on Solana in 2025 is here, and it’s not a game, not a meme, and not a hype-only token. It’s Cedar — and if you’ve been in crypto for more than a minute, you may already have heard about what’s coming.

The evolution of two Binance Smart Chain tokens, including the largest community-driven rewards token in history — distributing a staggering $40 million in BUSD directly to holders. No inflated APRs. No liquidity traps. Just real stablecoin-based income paid out on-chain.

Now Cedar is reborn — and it’s making its most important move yet: a fully revamped launch on Solana, designed for transparency, decentralization, and actual, tangible value for the people who hold it.

Cedar’s Triple Rewards Engine

As Cedar makes its move to Solana, it brings with it a uniquely structured system of three powerful ways for holders to earn real rewards — not just hype, but actual, on-chain value.

1. Liquidity Fee Sharing
Instead of LP fees going into the pockets of anonymous founders or early backers, Cedar flips the model. Their massive $3.7 million SOL-backed liquidity pool is designed to support deep, stable trading — and it’s the holders who benefit from the fee revenue, not some hidden team wallet.

2. Pre-Funded Community Treasury
Cedar’s DAO already controls a nearly $1 million rewards fund, set aside to directly benefit the community. This isn’t a future roadmap promise — it’s real, existing capital, ready to be deployed as part of Cedar’s long-term reward plan.

3. Ecosystem Revenue (Powered by Atlas Wallet)
Cedar’s first major utility, Atlas Wallet, has been in the works for over 2.5 years — and it’s almost ready to go live.
This isn’t a prototype; it’s a security-audited, user-tested, and fully developed product:

  • Audited by Kudelski Security (who audited Phantom Wallet) and by Certik, one of crypto’s top audit firms
  • Put through a full beta cycle with real users over a 12 month period.

Atlas is aiming high — toward the MetaMask and Phantom tier of wallets, where monthly revenues can hit $25 million or more. But what sets Cedar apart is this: profits from Atlas won’t go to a private company — they’ll flow back to the Cedar community. If you hold the token, you share in the upside.

A Project with Proven Loyalty and Leadership

Cedar is governed by an 11-member DAO, consisting of long-time project veterans — the same people who helped it distribute millions in stablecoin rewards in 2021. Unlike many new projects with mysterious teams, Cedar is built by people with a track record and a name in the community.

Solana has seen many launches. Cedar may be the first that combines real liquidity, real rewards, and real products into a fully decentralized offering with zero fluff.

Stay Ahead of the Curve:
Cedar DAO: https://www.cedardao.com
Atlas Wallet: https://www.atlaswallet.com
X: https://x.com/cedardao
Telegram: https://t.me/Cedar_DAO

About Cedar DAO

Cedar DAO is a decentralized finance project focused on delivering stable, community-powered rewards. Originally launched in 2021 on Binance Smart Chain, Cedar distributed $40 million in stablecoin-based payouts to users before preparing its next chapter. Now launching on Solana with $3.7M in $SOL liquidity and $1M in DAO-held rewards, Cedar brings real utility via Atlas Wallet — a premium, audited product that shares revenue with its holders. Built by a long-standing team and governed entirely by its community, Cedar is redefining what it means to launch on Solana.

About Atlas Wallet

Atlas Wallet is a secure, all-in-one crypto wallet built for today’s multi-chain world. Designed to support both everyday users and advanced crypto investors, Atlas provides seamless access to top networks including Solana, Ethereum, BSC, PulseChain, Bitcoin, Cardano, Avalanche, Polygon, and Cronos. Whether you’re managing tokens, exploring DeFi, or storing assets long-term, Atlas brings best-in-class usability and security to every corner of the blockchain. It’s the only wallet most users will ever need — and the backbone of Cedar’s product-driven ecosystem.

Velvet Capital launches Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot to help users navigate DeFi smarter 1874

Velvet Capital has launched the beta version of its Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot, an assistant built to help DeFi users discover new tokens, evaluate onchain opportunities, and make more informed trading decisions across ecosystems.

The Unicorn is the first step in Velvet Capital’s broader vision of building a DeFAI Operating System – a platform where users, funds, and agents can analyze markets, allocate capital, and eventually execute onchain strategies with minimal manual effort.

The Velvet Unicorn Copilot is now available inside Velvet Capital’s Trading Terminal and supports a range of discovery and analysis functions.

What the Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot can do

In its current beta release, the Velvet Unicorn Copilot offers:

  • Alpha Discovery: Identify trending tokens and active narratives
  • Token Analysis: Evaluate tokenomics, onchain activity, holder behavior, and liquidity trends
  • Price Forecasting: Get access to in-house statistical models that surface directional signals

The tool is designed to reduce friction for users navigating fast-moving markets—helping them filter noise, identify promising assets early, and build conviction with data-backed insights.

To unlock access to the Copilot, users must hold 420,000 $VU tokens in their connected wallet.

Looking ahead: from assistant to agent

While the current version is assistive, the Velvet Unicorn is built to evolve. Future releases will introduce more agentic capabilities, allowing the Copilot to:

  • Execute intent-based trades on behalf of the user
  • Manage structured DeFi strategies and portfolios
  • Act autonomously on behalf of DAOs, funds, or individual users

This progression reflects Velvet Capital’s broader mission: to build an intelligent, modular DeFAI OS where strategy logic, execution, and AI agents can co-exist onchain.

Try the AI Copilot during the Binance Wallet Pre-TGE campaign

As part of the rollout, Velvet Capital has launched a limited-time campaign in partnership with Binance Wallet, running through May 7, 2025.

Participants can connect their Binance Wallet, complete a series of social and onchain tasks, and earn from a pool of 8 million $VELVET tokens prior to the TGE.

The onchain tasks involve using Velvet’s Trading Terminal and Portfolios, offering a low-barrier way to explore the product while accumulating early rewards.

Why it’s worth trying

Velvet Capital isn’t aiming to be another DEX aggregator or vault product. The team is building toward a longer-term thesis:

  • AI will be core to how capital is deployed onchain
  • Onchain execution layers are moving toward agents and abstraction
  • DeFi’s UX needs to improve—without reducing optionality or control

The Velvet Unicorn AI Copilot is a first expression of that thesis. The Binance Wallet campaign provides a lightweight way to try it out—and earn something for doing so.

Introducing Upscale: The first StarsFi prop trading platform on Telegram 1885

Storm Trade, the leader in decentralized derivatives on TON, is once again setting industry trends. With millions of users, an integrated academy, generous airdrops, and the fastest trading experience in a Telegram Mini App, Storm Trade has become synonymous with innovation in decentralized finance.

The protocol combines a professional-grade mobile interface with the full functionality of a web version, providing a seamless experience even for seasoned traders. Here, users can trade not only cryptocurrencies but also forex, commodities, and stocks — all without leaving Telegram.

Today, Storm Trade announces the next step in the evolution of its ecosystem — Upscale, the first prop trading product in a Telegram mini-app, built on StarsFi.

Prop Trading — the next big narrative for 2025?

Following a wave of mass liquidations in the futures market fueled by the hype around meme coins like $TRUMP and others, many traders have started seeking more sustainable trading models. Memes come and go — but losses stay.

In this context, prop trading could become one of the key narratives of 2025.

Prop trading encourages traders to focus not on reckless profit-chasing, but on discipline, risk control, and steady growth. Here, there are no wild liquidations — only clear terms, real money, and a path toward professionalism.

According to analysts, the total trading volume on crypto prop platforms exceeded $10 billion in 2024, with the number of traders in this segment growing by more than 40%.

Instead of chasing fleeting “x’s”, prop trading challenges traders to manage risks and stick to strategies, bringing them closer to becoming truly successful professionals. Upscale is built exactly for that — giving traders a chance to showcase their skills and earn by sharing profits.

Up to $100,000 under management — Transparent terms directly in Telegram

Upscale offers the opportunity to manage up to $100,000 without risking your own funds. Access to the program is available through a Telegram Stars subscription — fast, convenient, and transparent.

In the profit-sharing model, traders keep 80% of their profits, with the possibility to increase this share with consistent performance. This is one of the highest payout rates among prop platforms, where the average usually sits around 75%.

Trading conditions:

  • 0.008% fees on opening and closing positions — lower than major CEXs (which average around 0.05–0.1%).
  • Zero slippage on top crypto assets, including BTC, ETH, and other highly liquid pairs.
  • Support for short-term strategies, including scalping — execution speed meets professional traders’ standards.

Trader support is available 24/7 — the Upscale team is ready to quickly resolve any issues, from technical problems to challenge progression. According to Binance Research, 60% of traders consider the quality of support a key factor when choosing a platform.

How Upscale works: From challenge to funded account

Upscale offers a clear and transparent path to gaining access to a trading account with up to $100,000 in capital:

  1. Access — choosing challenge parameters. At this stage, traders select the profit targets and risk limits that suit them best.
  2. Challenge phase — the period where traders demonstrate their skills under controlled conditions. It’s crucial to show the ability to manage risks and achieve profit targets.
  3. Funded phase — access to a real account with up to $100,000 in company capital. From this point, traders work with company funds and can withdraw up to 80% of the profits.

The Telegram mini-app ensures constant communication — all progress updates, results, and new opportunities are delivered directly inside the messenger. For those who prefer extended features and analytics, a web version will be available soon.

A ranking and achievements system will make the process not only profitable but also more engaging and fun. New levels, rewards, and challenges will keep traders motivated and moving forward.

Upscale and Telegram Mini Apps — A new standard for trading

Upscale was created to remove the barriers between traders and trading opportunities. It’s not just about the conditions or the capital — it’s about making the trading environment itself accessible.

Instead of building a separate application with a traditional onboarding flow, Upscale works as a Telegram Mini App — within an ecosystem already used by over 1 billion people. Telegram is no longer just a messenger — it’s a platform for next-generation products.

Telegram Mini Apps offer:

  • Instant start — no downloads or registrations, directly within the familiar chat interface;
  • Simplified onboarding — one click and the user is already inside the trading terminal;
  • Viral effect — the platform can be easily shared with friends, organically expanding the trader community.

For Upscale, this is not just about convenience — it’s a strategic choice, making prop trading accessible to millions of Telegram users.

Upscale — A new chapter in prop trading

Prop trading has been a growth tool for professional traders in traditional finance. Today, Upscale brings this model into Telegram, providing access to capital and professional conditions where the crypto community already lives and evolves.

Everything is changing — trading formats, platforms, and growth models. But one thing remains unchanged — the opportunity to grow with the market. Upscale makes this path easier: no extra barriers, no clunky interfaces, and no compromises between convenience and quality.

Seamless access via Telegram, up to $100,000 under management, transparent terms, and 24/7 support — all of this forms a new standard of prop trading that becomes part of the Storm ecosystem.

The Future of Finance Powered by AI, Driven by DeFi – DeFylo the newest and growing Crypto investing platform, rises in the market 1817

28 4 2025 1

Utilizing the power of AI and Decentralized Finance, DeFylo is making its name as the rising Crypto investment platform with a secure financial system and guaranteed return of investment up to 48% per year.

Blockchain-based investment platform, DeFylo, sets a new standard for the DeFi market by introducing its unique AI-based algorithm trading technology to create stable and sustainable high profits. Boasting an exceptional staking return (APY) of 48% per year, DeFylo carves its way as the market’s smartest and seamless blockchain investment platform.

KEY FEATURES

  • Accessibility. The platform is open globally and easily accessible to both newcomers and seasoned investors.
  • Security. Provides real-time monitoring and smart contract protections.
  • Automated and innovative user experience. Its AI-based technology handles all the work while the user reaps the rewards.

INNOVATIVE AI-BASED TRADING TECHNOLOGY

DeFylo’s high-yield strategy lies in its core AI trading algorithm based on the industry’s leading transformer, unlocking opportunities across global markets securely, automatically, and intelligently. The platform’s algorithm thoroughly analyzes the long-term price flow and short-term volatility of the market whilst sourcing various external information, such as real-time news and social events, to ensure precise investment decisions that go beyond human judgment.

GUARANTEED SECURITY

DeFylo has established a wallet processing scheme using multilateral security calculation (MPC) to ensure industry-leading security, such as AML/KYC. Private keys are being distributed into several pieces to prevent the risk of a single hacking point and any form of abnormal transaction detection system through its real-time monitoring. Its thorough security design provides high reliability at the level of banks and institutions beyond the security vulnerabilities of general DeFi services.

IMPROVED USER EXPERIENCE

The platform operates an innovative reward system that connects digital finance and the real economy by introducing an NFT compensation program linked to real assets. Beyond simple token rewards, it provides differentiated added value to users by providing NFTs with practical benefits in the real world. This feature increases user participation and retention while providing marketing partners with opportunities such as attracting new customers and brand collaborations.

In recognition of the international reliability of technology and service quality, Defylo has formed a partnership with projects to build a global blockchain financial hub, such as the RWA project under the Lao government. In the future, Defylo plans to provide investors with safer and more profitable investment opportunities based on AI technology and innovative security systems proven in the global financial market.

DeFlyo Official links:
Website link: https://defylo.com/
Email: [email protected]

Paddle Finance Announce launch on Berachain: Liquidity Tools for Assets Most Protocols Ignore 2015

Paddle Finance has announced its launch on Berachain, bringing liquidity tools for assets that most protocols ignore in the Decentralized Finance industry.

While most DeFi protocols chase the same categories, such as blue-chip tokens, staking protocols, and liquid stablecoins, a different type of asset activity is growing behind the scenes. People hold NFTs, LP tokens, meme coins, and tokenized real-world assets in their wallets that represent value, but most of them sit unused because few platforms are built to support them.

Paddle Finance was designed for this gap: a lending and trading protocol built to unlock liquidity from non-standard assets. It operates on Base and Berachain, where activity is accelerating. Berachain alone has reached $2.69 billion in TVL. While others chase volume in familiar categories, PaddleFi focuses on helping users make use of what they already hold.

Why Berachain Fits the Model

There’s no shortage of new L1s and L2s, but Berachain stands apart in how it ties liquidity to real utility. Its Proof of Liquidity (PoL) model rewards protocols for real on-chain activity rather than passive staking, making it a strong match for products built around asset movement and user interaction.

Berachain has also become home to a fast-growing NFT ecosystem, especially among more degen communities. Projects like Steady Teddys, Bullas, Mibera, and Yeet are drawing in active participants. These collections are already being used within PaddleFi for borrowing, OTC trading, and community-focused liquidity programs.

On the technical side, Berachain uses Ethereum-compatible tools, lowering friction for deployment. But what sets it apart is its alignment with platforms like PaddleFi that serve assets outside the ERC-20 standard—assets that often emerge organically from community-driven culture, not top-down design.

What PaddleFi Actually Does

Most DeFi platforms were built around standard tokens, and that makes sense as for a long time, those were the only assets with enough liquidity to be usable. But that’s no longer the case. NFTs now hold real on-chain value, RWAs are being tokenized, and meme coins often have strong market caps and communities. These assets still get limited support, but PaddleFi is designed specifically for them.

It offers:

  • NFT lending through peer-to-peer and instant loan models
  • Trustless OTC trading for NFTs, RWAs, and tokens without going through centralized platforms or brokers.
  • Basket collateral for multiple assets to be packaged into a single loan or trade.

This structure gives users more flexibility without needing to sell or split up what they own. It also creates access for groups that often get left out—collectors, small token holders, and early-stage RWA participants.

$2.55 Million TVL and Growing

PaddleFi’s traction on multichain is measurable. As of now, the protocol holds over $2.55 million in assets locked across its contracts. In just April, it has already processed more than $3 million in volume, with growing usage in lending and OTC functions. That’s a meaningful signal in an ecosystem still in its early stages, especially considering the complexity of the assets being supported.

And the activity isn’t coming from generalized DeFi users; it’s coming from NFT-native and degen communities on Berachain. Many of the assets being used on PaddleFi aren’t tokens you’ll find on major exchanges. They’re “middle-class” NFTs—collections with strong engagement, but not always headline prices, low-float meme tokens, and in-development real-world asset projects that are experimenting with early liquidity.

This fits naturally with Berachain’s design, a chain built around activity, not polish. Where value is more about how assets are used than how they look, PaddleFi offers clear utility for communities that want to do more than just hold.

Filling a Gap That’s Easy to Overlook

Berachain already has protocols that cover the basics: Kodiak for swaps, Infrared for staking, and Honey for stablecoin liquidity. What’s been missing is a way to use assets that don’t fit into those buckets.

That’s where PaddleFi fits in. It connects overlooked assets like NFTs and RWAs to usable tools. NFT holders can borrow without selling. RWA investors can access capital without waiting for centralized approval. Smaller tokens can be traded directly without needing a formal market.

PaddleFi doesn’t aim to replace other dApps; it adds functionality around asset types that usually get ignored. And in a chain like Berachain, where liquidity is high but fragmented, that role matters. PaddleFi helps bring more of that capital into circulation.

The Bigger Picture

If you zoom out, what PaddleFi is doing is simple: it’s building tools for assets that don’t yet have default infrastructure. But the implications are larger. As the definition of “on-chain assets” continues to expand, the platforms that support the long tail, rather than only the top 10 tokens, will be the ones that grow alongside the space.

PaddleFi is betting that the future of DeFi won’t just be about liquidity, but also about how many types of assets you can make liquid. And so far, that bet is paying off.

With Berachain scaling quickly and its Proof of Liquidity (PoL) model rewarding real usage, PaddleFi is well-positioned to go deeper. The upcoming launch of NFT-backed money markets will give collections another way to tap into DeFi building blocks, and protocols like PaddleFi are key to making that possible.

This combination of infrastructure and community alignment is proving durable. It’s a glimpse of what the next phase of DeFi infrastructure might look like: fast, flexible, and built for assets that don’t follow a template but still belong in the same system.

MagicBlock Raises $7.5 Million to Bring Real-Time, App-Specific Extensions to Solana 2079

MagicBlock, a real-time engine for decentralised games and applications on Solana, has raised a $7.5 million Seed round. The round was led by Lightspeed Faction, with participation from Maven11, Delphi Digital, Robot Ventures, Mechanism Capital, Equilibrium, Pivot Global, and notable angels including Anatoly Yakovenko, Mert Mumtaz, and Tristan Yver. This investment fuels MagicBlock’s mission to power real-time, fully onchain games and applications built natively on Solana, ensuring that developers can build decentralized experiences with ultra-low latency and full composability – without the tradeoffs of an L2.

Following a $3 million investment led by a16z CSX in September 2024, this latest raise further accelerates MagicBlock’s momentum as it blurs the boundaries between blockchain and traditional servers. While traditional appchains force developers to choose between fragmented liquidity and app-specific customizations, MagicBlock delivers ultra-low latency and elastic throughput while maintaining full access to Solana’s liquidity and composable ecosystem. With MagicBlock’s Ephemeral Rollups, developers can build natively on Solana and access app-specific extensions, or plugins, like real-time pricing feeds, custom sequencing, or institutional-grade permissioned environment..

MagicBlock’s ephemeral rollup technology, pioneered by co-founders Andrea Fortugno and Gabriele Picco, is a breakthrough in real-time blockchain execution. Unlike traditional L2s and rollups that require bridging, this innovation enhances Solana’s performance without sacrificing native composability. MagicBlock ensures that developers can harness high-speed infrastructure with seamless interoperability across DeFi, gaming, and high-performance dApps.

As part of this growth phase, MagicBlock has partnered with Flash Trade, Supersize, Pyth, Jito, and dTelecom, leading projects in the Solana ecosystem that share its vision for fully onchain, high-performance applications.

  • Flash Trade, a decentralized derivative exchange, leverages MagicBlock’s ephemeral rollups to execute real-time, gas-efficient trades with minimal latency.
  • Supersize, a real-time multiplayer game built fully onchain for maximum composability and verifiability
  • dTelecom, a decentralized real-time communication network running ephemeral rollup technology to deliver a low latency experience with ultra-cheap fees.
  • Pyth Lazer, for a 1ms price stream running in Ephemeral Rollups
  • Jito, a leader in Solana’s validator ecosystem, collaborates with MagicBlock to enhance security with restaking and reducing execution time

These partnerships reinforce MagicBlock’s commitment to providing the fastest, most scalable infrastructure for developers building high-frequency trading platforms, real-time gaming, and next-generation onchain applications.

“Every application developer wants to build on the fastest chain with the deepest liquidity — that’s Solana. But they also want the customizability and real-time performance of a Web2 server. With MagicBlock, they don’t have to choose», said MagicBlock Co-Founder Andrea Fortugno.

With this funding, MagicBlock will expand its engineering team, scale its developer ecosystem, and continue optimizing its ephemeral rollup technology. As demand for real-time onchain applications grows, MagicBlock is positioning itself as the go-to execution layer for Web3 builders looking to harness Solana’s speed and composability.

About MagicBlock

MagicBlock is a real-time engine seamlessly integrated with Solana. It provides ultra-low latency, on-demand runtimes, and elastic scalability for fully onchain applications. Built for developers, MagicBlock delivers an unmatched combination of speed, composability, and scalability, ensuring that decentralized applications can achieve Web2-level performance without sacrificing the benefits of Web3. With cutting-edge ephemeral rollup technology, MagicBlock enables congestion-free, high-throughput transactions, empowering builders to create the next generation of onchain experiences across gaming, DeFi, and beyond.

Developers interested in leveraging MagicBlock’s technology can explore our documentation and start building today.

For more information, visit https://www.magicblock.xyz/