Starknet Ecosystem Updates: September 16, 2024

**LayerZero is now integrated into StarkGate**, Starknet's canonical bridge, enabling users to bridge SolvBTC and wBTC from Ethereum to Starknet immediately. **Key developments:** - Additional bridging routes will be supported in the coming days - More tokens will be listed over time - Integration connects Starknet to 160+ ecosystems - Stargate Finance, LayerZero's battle-tested bridge with $50B+ in volume, is now live on Starknet **What this enables:** - Cross-chain messaging between Starknet and LayerZero-connected chains - Support for Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard - 1:1 cross-chain transfers with no slippage - Access to 700+ tokens using the OFT standard The integration marks a significant interoperability upgrade for Starknet, bringing global liquidity and market-leading tokens to the network through LayerZero's proven infrastructure.

**Major Network Upgrade Incoming** Starknet v0.14.0 proposal has been approved and is set to launch on September 1st. The upgrade brings: - Faster user experience - Decentralized sequencing - Improved fee market - Additional performance enhancements **Extended Protocol Goes Live** Extended is now operational on Starknet Mainnet, introducing: - Efficient perpetual trading on 50+ pairs (including traditional finance assets) - Real yield-generating vaults - Seamless EVM onboarding **BTC Staking Vote Active** The Bitcoin staking proposal vote continues with 3 days remaining. STRK holders are encouraged to review the proposal carefully before voting on this integration of the Bitcoin community into the ecosystem. **Governance Updates** - Second round of StarkWare Delegation Program executed - Two delegation programs currently running: StarkWare and Starknet Foundation - Eligible participants should apply to both programs **Trading Expansion** Layer Akira has added new tokens for Starknet traders, including ARB and FARTCOIN. For complete weekly updates, visit the [Starknet Roundup](https://starknetresearch.substack.com/p/starknet-roundup-204). *Note: This is not financial advice. Always do your own research and stay safe.*

Starknet is positioning itself as an optimal infrastructure layer for consumer-facing applications, offering improved scalability at reduced costs. **Key advantages:** - Enhanced scaling capabilities for high-volume consumer apps - Lower transaction costs compared to alternatives - Infrastructure designed specifically for consumer use cases This assessment builds on previous analysis from July 2025, which identified Starknet's technical advantages for consumer applications. The platform's architecture appears to address common pain points in blockchain consumer apps: high fees and limited throughput. The focus on consumer applications suggests Starknet is targeting mainstream adoption rather than purely DeFi or institutional use cases. Lower costs and better scaling could enable applications like social platforms, gaming, and content distribution that require frequent, low-value transactions. Developers building consumer-facing products may find Starknet's infrastructure more suitable for applications requiring high transaction volumes without prohibitive costs.

The Starknet Foundation has announced a new online hackathon scheduled for February 2026. **Key Details:** - Total prize pool: $21,500 - Format: Online and open to all participants - Start date: February 1, 2026 - Duration: 28 days This follows a previous Starknet hackathon held in May 2025, which offered a $25k prize pool. The foundation continues its commitment to fostering developer engagement and innovation within the Starknet ecosystem. Developers interested in participating can find more information and submit applications at the official hackathon portal.

StarkWare has introduced two competitive events for Loot Survivor, the popular onchain game on Starknet: **Contest Details:** - Weekly Friday livestream featuring community players competing against a StarkWare team member - Week-long tournament running until January 30th - Prize pool of 35,000 STRK tokens for top-performing players **About Loot Survivor:** The game features all 101 original Loot items and has become one of Starknet's most-played titles since its November launch. Version 1.5 introduced verifiable randomness and other improvements. Players can participate using Cartridge's Controller account, which leverages Webauthn for key management and Starknet's Paymaster feature - meaning no upfront funds are required to play. [Contest announcement](https://x.com/Starknet/status/2014707298673783270)