Meet the Node Operators Series: Figment Joins WalletConnect Network

**WalletConnect has partnered with Hex Trust** to bring institutional-grade custody solutions to decentralized finance. The integration provides: - **Secure access to 70,000+ apps** through WalletConnect's network - **Instant DeFi connectivity** for institutional clients - **Enterprise-grade compliance** features This partnership aims to **bridge institutional liquidity with onchain protocols**, making it easier for custodian platforms to offer DeFi services to their clients. WalletConnect continues expanding its institutional infrastructure, following recent partnerships with Bloom Social and Asignaio for social finance and Bitcoin multisig security respectively. [Learn more about the partnership](https://walletconnect.network/blog/walletconnect-and-hex-trust) Custodian platforms interested in secure onchain access can explore WalletConnect's solutions at their [dedicated page](https://walletconnect.network/custodians).

**Rachel Conlan** leads one of crypto's largest marketing operations as CMO of Binance, overseeing a **230-person team**. The scale of her responsibility highlights the massive growth and complexity of marketing in the cryptocurrency exchange space. - Managing such a large team requires sophisticated organizational skills - Binance remains the world's largest crypto exchange by trading volume - Conlan's leadership approach offers insights into scaling marketing operations This peek into her **daily routine and strategic thinking** reveals how top executives navigate the fast-paced crypto industry.

**WalletConnect announces major expansion to Base network** during latest townhall, marking significant milestone for the protocol. **Key developments:** - $WCT token now available on Base with 1M token rewards for builders - Coinbase listing completed for broader accessibility - Day-one support confirmed for Circle's Arc platform **Network growth continues:** - 350M+ total connections achieved - 51M+ unique active wallets connected - 74K+ integrated applications **Enhanced staking rewards:** 2.5M $WCT allocated across two waves for loyal stakers and governance participants. **Strategic partnerships expand:** WalletConnect joins Global Dollar Network for improved payment infrastructure, while new campaigns with Solayer Labs, Bungee Exchange, and Layer3 distribute rewards to community members. The Base integration represents WalletConnect's largest builder-focused initiative, supporting developers building on Coinbase's Layer 2 solution.

**WalletConnect is integrating with Base**, Coinbase's Layer 2 network that's positioning itself as one of the fastest-growing onchain ecosystems. The integration aims to support Base's ambitious goal of **bringing a billion users, builders, and creators onchain**. This partnership builds on WalletConnect's existing momentum, with approximately 5 million wallets already connecting through their network monthly. Base has been gaining significant traction as a developer-friendly platform, and this WalletConnect integration will likely enhance user experience by providing seamless wallet connectivity across the ecosystem. The move represents another step in WalletConnect's mission to **build infrastructure for mainstream web3 adoption**.

A major blockchain voting competition has reached its elimination phase with **18 chains remaining** across 6 groups. Over **6,000 votes** were cast in the previous round. The format is now **winner-takes-all** - only the top chain from each group advances to the next stage. **Current Groups:** - Group 1: Avalanche, MultiversX, Verus - Group 2: Hyperliquid, Polygon, Arbitrum - Group 3: Tezos, Sonic Labs, Radix - Group 4: Ethereum, Sui, Vaulta - Group 5: Solana, Cardano, Litecoin - Group 6: Bitcoin, Berachain, NEAR The competition features major Layer 1 blockchains and scaling solutions competing head-to-head. Notable matchups include **Ethereum vs Sui**, **Bitcoin vs Berachain**, and **Solana vs Cardano**. Voting is currently open for community members to determine which chains advance.