Optimism

Optimism's latest Retro Funding round distributed 2.6M OP tokens to support blockchain development: - 154 onchain applications received funding - 89 developer tools were rewarded - Total of 8M OP allocated in last 3 months - 8M OP remains available this season The initiative continues to support builders creating impact on the Superchain. Developers can check eligibility and apply through the [Atlas platform](https://atlas.optimism.io/). [View detailed results](https://atlas.optimism.io/round/results?rounds=7,8)

ZKsync is advancing its mission to scale Ethereum through ZK technology in 2025. The project aims to create an elastic network with these key features: - Limitless scalability - Full interoperability - Enhanced security The team is focused on making ZKsync the definitive Ethereum scaling solution while preserving Ethereum's core values of innovation, collaboration, and freedom. [Read the full announcement](https://zksync.mirror.xyz/QG2Xr4lQdJTbyjeKftPVc6-pj2t9-H9WEGnvCcnusck)

OP Mainnet has officially joined Chainlink SCALE program, aligning with other Optimism superchain networks like Base and Soneium. Key updates: - Data Streams now operational - Chainlink Functions enabled - VRF (Verifiable Random Function) available These integrations allow developers to build more sophisticated applications using Chainlink's complete suite of services on OP Mainnet. The move represents a significant expansion of Web3 infrastructure on the Optimism ecosystem.

Optimism Collective announces its H2 strategic goal: achieving $100M monthly in cross-chain asset transfers across interoperable Stage 1 chains. The Citizens House introduces three stakeholder groups: - Top 15 chains by revenue - Top 100 apps by gas fees - End-users with verified activity Key registration requirements: - End-users must prove human status via WorldCoin - Limited spots available - Sybil protection through HumanPassport screening This follows Optimism's recent $2M bug bounty extension for Superchain protocol upgrades, which has already paid out $2.6M since 2022. [Register for citizenship](http://atlas.optimism.io/citizenship)

The Superchain ecosystem continues to expand with the OP Stack emerging as the dominant L2 solution. Key metrics include: - 50+ chains and $17B+ in TVL - 6 of top 10 L2s running OP Stack - Powers 70% of all L2 transactions Recent developments: - Four networks (OP Mainnet, Base, Unichain, Ink) reached Stage 1 decentralization - Flashblocks upgrade reducing transaction times to ~200ms - Native interop features coming this summer - Growing number of teams joining Superchain Incubator The platform emphasizes security, speed, and seamless cross-chain interactions while maintaining Ethereum compatibility.

Two major audit contests have been announced for blockchain security: - **Superchain Security Contest** Open invitation for whitehats and developers to audit code for secure interoperability [Contest Details](https://cantina.xyz/competitions/44b385bf-e51a-4e6c-b3a8-adbbe24d16e1) - **STRK Staking Contract Audit** CodeHawks contest starting April 4th Prize pool: $80k USDC KYC required [Registration Link](https://codehawks.cyfrin.io/c/2025-04-starknet-part-2) *Both contests offer opportunities for security researchers to contribute to blockchain infrastructure security.*

Superchain interoperability has officially launched, enabling seamless interaction between previously fragmented blockchain networks. Key features: - Cross-chain event reading without additional trust requirements - Single integration point for developers - Universal access to assets and users across the Superchain - Elimination of manual network switching and bridge hunting The system creates a unified blockchain experience that functions as a single cohesive network, significantly simplifying both development and user experience.

Attention app developers: Prepare for Superchain Interop with Supersim, a lightweight tool for local Superchain simulation. Key features include: - Developer-friendly interface - Local Superchain simulation - L2 to L2 message passing testing - Cross-chain feature and app flow iteration **Workshop Details:** - Date: October 23, 2024 - Time: 1800 UTC - Host: @allam_hamdi Supersim allows developers to simulate cross-chain application flows, message passing infrastructure, and OP Stack logic with a single command. This enables local observation of cross-chain interactions and multi-chain app iteration. Register for the workshop: https://lu.ma/interopworkshops Get started with Supersim: https://docs.optimism.io/builders/app-developers/tools/supersim

**Uniswap community chooses Optimism** for Unichain, citing: - Battle-tested, open-source technology - Superchain's network effects and interoperability roadmap - Shared goal of scaling Ethereum **Key features of Unichain:** - Built on OP Stack - 1-second confirmation times (aiming for 250ms) - Optimized for cross-chain liquidity - Supports Superchain Interop-compatible ERC20s **Benefits:** - Fast, low-cost transactions - Seamless cross-chain asset and data movement - Contributes to Optimism Collective **Call-to-Action:** Learn more about Superchain Interop and mint a commemorative NFT.

The OP Stack, a blockchain framework designed to scale Ethereum, has been modular and open-source since its inception. Despite its name, it's not limited to optimistic rollups. - Helps developers scale Ethereum - Modular and open-source architecture - Versatile beyond optimistic rollups The community is eager to see how developers will utilize the OP Stack to innovate and expand Ethereum's capabilities. **Let's continue building together and push the boundaries of blockchain technology.**