Ethereum Ecosystem Update: 21 Major Developments

**Fileverse** launches as a decentralized file-sharing and collaboration protocol built on Ethereum. The platform gives users complete control over: - Document ownership and permissions - Access management - File sharing without intermediaries **Key features:** - Open collaboration tools - Privacy-focused design - Censorship-resistant infrastructure Fileverse positions itself as an alternative to centralized services like Google Drive or Notion, leveraging blockchain technology to ensure users maintain sovereignty over their data and collaborative workflows.

The **Holesky testnet** has reached its planned end-of-life date and will be sunset shortly. **Key Timeline:** - Validator nodes will shut down 2 weeks after the Fusaka upgrade finalizes - This follows the previous shutdown of the Goerli testnet in 2023 **What This Means:** - Developers who relied on Holesky for testing will need to migrate to alternative testnets - The shutdown is part of Ethereum's planned testnet lifecycle management - New testnets typically replace older ones to maintain testing infrastructure **Background:** Holesky was launched as a replacement for the Goerli testnet, providing developers with a testing environment for protocols and smart contracts before mainnet deployment. Developers should prepare for the transition and identify alternative testing environments for their projects.

The **Ethereum Foundation's Grants Program**, launched in 2018, has transformed into the **Ecosystem Support Program (ESP)**. The ESP provides: - Grants to builders strengthening the Ethereum ecosystem - Ongoing support for developers and projects - Resources aimed at long-term ecosystem impact This evolution represents the Foundation's **commitment to optimizing** how community resources are invested for maximum benefit to the Ethereum network and its applications. The program continues to be an *experimental approach* to funding, with continuous improvements based on ecosystem needs and feedback from the developer community.

The Ethereum Foundation's Protocol team has released an update on their **Improve UX** strategic initiative, one of three key focus areas alongside Scale L1 and Scale blobs. This follows previous updates on: - L1 scaling improvements - Blob scaling approach for enhanced data availability - Protocol team reorganization announced in June The UX track aims to make Ethereum more accessible and user-friendly while maintaining the network's security standards. This represents part of the Foundation's broader effort to align research and development teams around core strategic goals. The initiative builds on months of focused work since the Protocol reorganization was first introduced.

**Farcaster** is a decentralized social protocol built on Ethereum that enables developers to create social applications where users maintain ownership of their data, identity, and social connections. Key features: - **User ownership** of personal data and social graph - **Portable identity** across different applications - **Censorship-resistant** social networking - **Open protocol** allowing multiple apps to be built on top The protocol leverages blockchain technology to create a framework for building social media applications that prioritize user control and data sovereignty over traditional centralized platforms.