Launch of Astar zkEVM with AggLayer Integration by Astar Network and Polygon
Launch of Astar zkEVM with AggLayer Integration by Astar Network and Polygon
Astar Network has launched Astar zkEVM, a ZK-powered rollup integrated with Polygon CDK and the first chain to fully integrate the AggLayer. This collaboration between Polygon Labs, Astar Network, and Gelato marks the beginning of an aggregated blockchain environment, uniting liquidity without sacrificing blockchain sovereignty.
Today, @AstarNetwork is launching Astar zkEVM, a ZK-powered rollup built with Polygon CDK—and the first protocol fully integrated with the AggLayer. This is big. It took a team of core devs at Polygon Labs, Astar Network, and Gelato to kick off the age of aggregation with a
The first essential component of AggLayer is live: the unified bridge. But this is only the start. The AggLayer, which enables an aggregated blockchain environment, begins with the unified bridge and ends with unified liquidity. When complete, it will enable near-instant,
We're thrilled to announce the official launch of Astar zkEVM! Astar zkEVM is an Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution leveraging @0xPolygon's zero-knowledge technology and is also the FIRST chain to integrate the revolutionary AggLayer. 🌐: astar.network/blog/astar's-z…
Polygon, Frax, and Curve Launch Onchain FX Markets for Global Currency Swaps
Polygon Labs, Frax Finance, and Curve Finance have launched onchain foreign exchange liquidity pools, enabling users to swap between global currencies directly onchain. **Key Features:** - Six global stablecoin pairs now live on Polygon - frxUSD serves as the base dollar pairing - Lower all-in costs compared to traditional cross-border payment rails - Transparent pricing and instant settlement - Open access for any company Users can swap currencies or provide liquidity to earn rewards alongside major non-USD stablecoin issuers. The pools are deployed on Curve's Polygon liquidity infrastructure. This infrastructure aims to bring global currencies onchain with deep liquidity specifically designed for cross-border payments. [Read the full integration details](https://polygon.technology/blog/polygon-labs-frax-and-curve-finance-launch-onchain-fx-markets)
🌍 Hydrex Launches Multi-Currency FX Markets with Seven Fiat-Backed Pairs
Hydrex has launched a new foreign exchange market featuring seven fiat-backed currency pairs, all paired against frxUSD (Frax USD) as the base stablecoin. **Live Trading Pairs:** - BRZ (Brazilian real) - KRWQ (Korean won) - IDRX (Indonesian rupiah) - tGBP (British pound) - AUDF (Australian dollar) - USDT (US dollar) The platform builds on frxUSD's established liquidity model, which has become a default pairing in DeFi through Treasury yield incentives. Hydrex and DFB are now extending this productive liquidity approach to global FX markets. Incentives and gauges are currently active, with additional currency pairs under development. This expansion represents a move toward bringing traditional foreign exchange trading infrastructure into decentralized finance.
Polygon Chain Deploys Third Mainnet Upgrade in Four Months
Polygon Chain has deployed the **Giugliano Upgrade** to mainnet, marking its third major upgrade in four months. **Key improvements include:** - Transaction finality reduced by 2 seconds for payment applications - P2P throughput increased 4x under network load - Enhanced gas fee transparency for on-chain transactions The upgrade focuses on strengthening Polygon's payment infrastructure capabilities with faster confirmations, predictable fees, and improved network resilience. [Read full details](https://polygon.technology/blog/giugliano-upgrade-faster-confirmations-predictable-fees-and-a-more-resilient-network-for-polygon-chain)
T-REX Builds Dedicated Chain for Tokenized Securities Using Polygon CDK
T-REX has chosen Polygon CDK to build a custom blockchain specifically for tokenized securities. **Key reasons for the decision:** - **Institutional-grade compliance** - CDK enables dedicated blockspace with custom controls and built-in privacy features - **Capital markets infrastructure** - The platform is designed to match how traditional capital markets actually operate - **Ecosystem connectivity** - Direct integration with all chains in the Agglayer ecosystem - **Regulatory tooling** - Access to compliance tools and security options required for regulated securities The move reflects growing demand for purpose-built blockchain infrastructure in traditional finance, where generic chains may not meet strict regulatory requirements.
Polygon's Busy Week: Zero-Fee Onramps, Private Mempool, and $300M+ in Cross-Chain Volume
**Key Developments This Week:** - **MoonPay** launched zero-fee stablecoin onramps for AI agents - **Polymarket** expanded into traditional asset markets using Pyth Network price feeds - **Mayan** has processed over $300M in cross-chain volume on Polygon to date - **TokenPocket** now supports zero-gas USDC transfers **Infrastructure Updates:** Polygon introduced a **private mempool** to improve transaction privacy and reduce MEV extraction. Polygon Labs also joined the x402 foundation under the Linux Foundation. **New Launches:** - Surf Liquid: stablecoin savings vaults - Rise Pay: onchain payroll solution - Euclid Protocol and Pagga both deployed on Polygon - BlockOps: bringing African financial infrastructure onchain These updates build on last month's Lisovo upgrade, which brought $1M in subsidized gas for agent payments and improved smart contract compatibility. Polygon continues expanding its stablecoin ecosystem, which recently hit a record $3.28B in supply.