Layer 2 Review Issue #27
Is it Morphing Time Yet? | Layer 2 Review
Quick Reads and Hot Links Covering the People and Projects Who Are Scaling Ethereum
Dear Frens,
We may be seeing some drastic measures regarding rollup nomenclature and standards as Vitalik Buterin recently announced his decision to only recognize L2 solutions that are at least Stage 1 as from next year. Projects that remain at Stage 0 decentralization may not be recognized or regarded to as rollups on Ethereum.
Stylus went live on Arbitrum mainnet on September 3, flinging the doors wide open for traditional developers to build on the network using WebAssembly (WASM)-compatible languages. This exciting development unlocks powerful use cases with WebAssembly smart contracts which are interoperable with the EVM.
Base is poised for another significant growth phase following the launch of Coinbase’s wrapped Bitcoin, cbBTC. According to coinbase’s announcement, the wrapped BTC token will be supported on the layer 2 network and Ethereum.
In this issue’s editorial, the author introduces us to Morph, a budding layer 2 network on Ethereum. Will it find sustained use cases or just fade away after initial hype? Stay tuned as we provide you with latest insights and developments around the world of Ethereum’s layer 2.
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🗞️ Ecosystem Updates
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🔥 Hot News
Movement Labs Bets on 'Postconfirmations' to Boost Ethereum Scalability
Movement Labs is reportedly developing a new mechanism for rapid transaction settlements on layer 2 networks, with plans to launch by the end of 2024.
According to co-founder Rushi Manche, this system, called "postconfirmations," could potentially reduce confirmation times to under one second.
This innovation comes as a result of the significant growth of Ethereum's L2 solutions, with total value locked more than tripling in 2024 to nearly $35 billion. This surge highlights the increasing demand for scalable solutions that would put an end to limited transaction throughput.
Movement's approach aims to address limitations in existing L2 solutions, such as the lengthy finality periods of optimistic rollups and the high costs associated with zk-rollups. The proposed system would allow applications on Movement's upcoming M2 network to optionally use a validator network secured by the MOVE token.
To learn more about this recent development, check out the full article below 👇🏽
🏛 Governance
💬 Proposals in Discussion
Arbitrum
Optimism
Polygon
Starknet
Is it Morphing Time Yet?
Author: Lucent
Image: Tonytad
Morph L2 is a budding layer 2 network on Ethereum that claims to be “powering the global consumer layer for everyday users”. The network hopes to directly address blockchain's biggest challenges: scalability and security, while offering a more user-friendly experience than traditional blockchain infrastructure. In this article, we provide an overview of Morph’s architecture, market strategies, and challenges. With all the development team is putting in place, will Morph be the next big deal on Ethereum or will it simply join the already long list of layer 2 “solutions”?
The Morph Architecture
Morph employs a Responsive Validity Proof (RVP) System, which combines the strengths of optimistic and zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. This hybrid system allows for faster finality, lower transaction costs, and greater scalability — all critical components for consumer-facing applications. As blockchain technology evolves, balancing these factors will be essential for attracting mainstream developers and users.
One of Morph’s innovations is its decentralized sequencer network, designed to resolve the limitations of traditional centralized sequencers which several L2 solutions currently operate. Typically, a single sequencer can become a central point of failure, exposing the system to transaction censorship and monopolization of Miner Extractable Value (MEV). Morph has taken the decentralized approach for its sequencers, looking to provide scalability while ensuring fairness and efficiency. Their sequencer design features Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) consensus, BLS signatures, and a modular design to enhance functionality.
Market Strategy
Morph allows users to stake their native tokens to participate in the network's security. Token holders can delegate their tokens to nodes, known as sequencers responsible for processing transactions. The more tokens a node has staked the higher its chances of producing blocks, creating an alignment between participation, rewards, and network decentralization.
In August 2024, Morph completed its first major testnet campaign, “The Genesis Jungle.” This event helped drive user engagement and gather feedback in preparation for the mainnet launch. Participants earned Morph Points for interacting with various decentralized applications (dApps), which helped fine-tune the network.
The network is using several schemes to attract developers and incubate projects. In May 2024, Morph introduced the "Morph Zoo", a multi-stage program aimed at engaging and rewarding participants within their testnet, hoping to keep users actively engaged. On the financial side, Morph raised $20 million in a funding round led by Dragonfly earlier in March to fund development.
The Ghost Chain Trap
A Ghost Chain is a blockchain with minimal activity and user engagement until it becomes obsolete. So far, Morph is trying to prevent this pitfall through community engagement and developer participation, which are important ingredients of an active ecosystem.
One of Morph's key initiatives to avoid becoming a ghost chain is the SparkLoom Incubator Program, which encourages developers to build on its testnet. This, with strategic partnerships, expands Morph's reach and taps into a wider user base.
Morph recently announced the creation of the Centralized Exchange Coalition, partnering with exchanges such as Bitget, HTX, MEXC, and Poloniex. These partnerships ease the listing process for vetted projects, making it easier for developers to access liquidity and for their projects to gain visibility and by extension, help projects built on Morph’s network gain traction and strengthen their position in the ecosystem.
Will Morph L2 Succeed?
From the roadmap, it’s clear that Morph has ambitious goals, but achieving success will require more than innovative technology. While its decentralized approach and user-friendly vision are admirable, the true test lies in execution. Has Morph built a strong community to stay in the top L2s? Will the applications built on the platform offer real, tangible value to users? Time will answer these questions.
This post does not contain financial advice, only educational information. By reading this article, you agree and affirm the above, as well as that you are not being solicited to make a financial decision, and that you in no way are receiving any fiduciary projection, promise, or tacit inference of your ability to achieve financial gains.
📈 Data
Total Value Locked on L2s is About $34 billion!
Source: L2BEAT
Top Ten Projects by Total Value Locked:
Source: L2BEAT
🔭 Project Watch
Arbitrum
Source: DeFillama
Optimism
Top Projects by TVL in the Last 7 Days
Source: DeFillama
Base
Top Projects by TVL in the Last 7 Days
Source: DeFillama
zkEVM
Top Projects by TVL in the Last 7 Days
Source: DeFillama
🔥 L2 Fees and Costs Update
Transaction Fees as of September 13, 2024:
Source: Growthepie