BOB Gateway Launches with LayerZero Integration for Native Bitcoin DeFi Bridging

**Ankr announces partnership with QuStreams** to power their Layer 2 rollout using scalable, low-latency node infrastructure. The collaboration leverages Ankr's **Phase 4 infrastructure evolution** - a private global fiber network that replaced Cloudflare's CDN system. This upgrade delivers: - **50-80% latency reduction** - Improved uptime guarantees - Enhanced privacy with no third-party data retention - Full traffic observability and control **Key infrastructure features:** - Private global fiber network with owned PoPs - Custom edge stack and proprietary load balancer - Anycast routing via BGP - Encryption-ready architecture Ankr's infrastructure now supports **75+ chains** and processes over **1 trillion RPCs monthly**. The company has moved away from third-party dependencies to own the full stack, from bare-metal nodes to global fiber networks. **Next phase developments** include a blockchain-native RPC load balancer with context-aware capabilities for block height, node type, and caching optimization. This partnership demonstrates how Web3 infrastructure is evolving beyond traditional cloud solutions toward **purpose-built, owned networks** designed for real-world blockchain adoption and performance demands.

**RPCfi is launching on Neura's network** to transform network traffic into on-chain liquidity. The partnership with Ankr aims to: - Convert network activity into **onchain liquidity and rewards** - Create a growth flywheel through increased usage - Bridge traditional network operations with DeFi opportunities This development represents a new approach to **monetizing network infrastructure** by turning routine network traffic into tradeable liquidity tokens. The project is currently in development with a **"coming soon"** timeline announced.

**Ankr** has announced its role as a validator and staking infrastructure provider for **CratD2C**, supporting the network's foundation for scalable growth. CratD2C operates a comprehensive ecosystem spanning: - DeFi and e-Commerce platforms - Real Estate and Luxury Lifestyle Booking - IP Co-ownership and Tap-2-Mine PoI Mining - CratSwap V3 DEX and Multi-Chain Bridge - Staking Protocol unified by Layer-1 Blockchain Users can participate as **Validators, Delegators, LiteBackers, or TurboBackers** to earn: - Block rewards and transaction fees - Lifetime royalties - EcoIP Portions The partnership combines Ankr's enterprise-grade reliability with CratD2C's vision for a transparent, decentralized smart-chain economy. [Learn more about CratD2C](https://cratd2csmartchain.io/)

Ankr partnered with **Kaia Chain** at Token2049 Singapore to launch a hackathon through their Hackathon Supercharger Program. **Key contributions included:** - Free enterprise-grade RPC infrastructure access - On-site DevRel team mentorship and judging - Co-marketing support for standout projects - $15,000 in Ankr RPC credits for winning teams **Results:** Dozens of new projects launched and thousands of developers engaged in the Kaia ecosystem. The partnership focused on providing builders with the same infrastructure that powers Kaia Chain itself, emphasizing practical development support over traditional sponsorship. [Read the full case study](https://www.ankr.com/blog/case-study-how-ankr-supercharged-kaia-s-developer-ecosystem-with-hackathon-contributions/)

**AWS experienced another major outage**, serving as a reminder of web3's reliance on centralized cloud infrastructure. While many services went down, **Ankr's bare-metal infrastructure remained operational**, continuing to support over 100 blockchains globally. Key advantages of distributed infrastructure: - **Globally distributed** nodes reduce single points of failure - **Low latency** connections improve performance - **Load balanced** systems handle traffic spikes better - **Built for resilience** during major outages This incident echoes previous AWS outages that exposed how much of the supposedly decentralized web3 ecosystem still depends on traditional cloud providers. **Bare-metal, distributed networks** are proving their value as a more reliable alternative to centralized cloud infrastructure. Learn more about building resilient blockchain infrastructure at [Ankr's RPC services](https://www.ankr.com/rpc/).