BaseLayer Season 1 Concludes with Builder Spotlights

**Avantis Finance** has launched a perpetuals exchange that unifies traditional and crypto markets on a single blockchain infrastructure. **Key Features:** - Trade gold, oil, forex, and cryptocurrencies with leverage - All assets available onchain through Base network - Eliminates separation between traditional finance and crypto trading **What This Means:** Traders can now access leveraged positions across multiple asset classes without switching platforms or dealing with separate custody solutions. The platform brings traditional market instruments like commodities and foreign exchange into the decentralized finance ecosystem. The exchange represents a shift toward unified trading infrastructure where asset class boundaries become less relevant for traders seeking exposure across markets. [Learn more about Avantis Finance](https://avantisfi.com)

**Trading Activity Surges** - Fomo platform processed over $70M in trading volume this week - 18,000+ unique traders active, with 1,800 new participants joining - Upshot Cards returning entire $50,000 Base grant directly to users **Notable Launches** - **NetworkNoya** introduced first voice-powered DeFi interface on Base - users can swap, bridge, and deposit using spoken commands - **100xSOON** launched AI-native perpetual trading platform - **HydrexFi** deployed full trading suite with limit orders, DCA, and smart routing - **BreakoutApp** turned engagement into tradable assets **Real-World Applications** - USDC payments on Base demonstrated via Xeno Money - Royaltiz bringing athlete trading with $15M revenue and 200+ athletes signed - O1 Exchange released enterprise-grade trading API for better execution **Mobile Growth** - Farm Frens launched casual onchain farming game on Base app - Overtime reflected on one year of mobile-native development

A new non-custodial launchpad has been introduced, designed to serve a global community of builders. **Key Features:** - Non-custodial infrastructure, allowing users to maintain control of their assets - Built to support builders worldwide - Continues development of launchpad infrastructure The platform represents an evolution in launchpad technology, prioritizing user control and global accessibility. This follows previous commitments to building robust launchpad infrastructure. The non-custodial approach means users retain ownership of their funds throughout the process, reducing counterparty risk compared to traditional custodial solutions.

The crypto community is buzzing about a new development from Austin Griffith, a well-known builder in the Ethereum ecosystem. **Key Points:** - Community members have confirmed that "people were indeed cooking" - suggesting active development on an anticipated project - Austin Griffith, creator of Scaffold-ETH and other developer tools, is at the center of this activity - The project appears to be building momentum, with follow-up confirmation from the community While specific details remain limited, the acknowledgment from the community indicates something noteworthy is in development. Austin Griffith has a track record of creating impactful tools for Ethereum developers. More information is expected to emerge as the project progresses.

**Major Developments This Week** - **Base Ecosystem Job Network** goes live via @hirechain_io with roles across the ecosystem - **THE MUSICAL** becomes first Base-backed film selected for Sundance U.S. Dramatic Competition - **Base Pay** launches one-step onchain payments on Shopify with open standards **Key Launches** - **@virtuals_io** debuts BaseSolana Bridge for cross-chain agent economy - **@withportrait** removes registration fees, making onchain identity free - **@districtxyz** announces $1M Builder Fund - **@riftdex** enables native BTC/ERC20 trading with low gas costs **Infrastructure Updates** - Ethereum ships PeerDAS upgrade for cheaper rollup fees - Multiple Solana-Base bridges launch via @flaunchgg and @RelayProtocol - @horizenglobal mainnet goes live as privacy-focused appchain **Mini Apps Expansion** - @joinbond featured as spotlight app for creator staking - @MetaLend_DeFi and @WowmaxExchange launch lending and trading apps - @Wishwish_art builds onchain popmart with AR/VR utility Base continues expanding its ecosystem with job opportunities, entertainment partnerships, and cross-chain connectivity.