This article introduces research funded by the dYdX Foundation, discussing dYdX as a successful case of a decentralized exchange and its impact on the current blockchain industry. dYdX's success challenges "Rollup maximalism" and provides a significant case of whether infrastructure or applications are more important. The article also outlines dYdX's development history, from initial margin and options trading to perpetual futures contract trading. Finally, the article summarizes the significance of dYdX's development for the industry and provides valuable insights for those considering launching or transitioning products. dYdX's development has undergone several stages, from launching on the Ethereum mainnet, moving to Layer1, and ultimately launching its own chain. dYdX's decisions demonstrate the importance of blockchain infrastructure, with flexibility being crucial for the success of products.

The focus of the Bitcoin ecosystem's development lies in supporting market activities. Mainstream Layer2 solutions include the Lightning Network, sidechains, and Rollups. The Lightning Network enables peer-to-peer payments by establishing off-chain payment channels, while sidechains achieve this by locking Bitcoin assets and minting equivalent assets on the sidechain. Within the Bitcoin ecosystem, there are also stablecoin protocols and various DeFi projects. Unlike Ethereum, Bitcoin's Layer2 solutions offer multiple choices. The Lightning Network has the potential to achieve high TPS (transactions per second) but carries centralization risks. Sidechain solutions, similar to Ethereum, can issue assets equivalent to Bitcoin at a 1:1 ratio. Additionally, there are various cross-chain bridge solutions and Bitcoin-based DeFi protocols, such as B2 Network, Merlin Chain, and Alex. The Bitcoin ecosystem will serve as a crucial engine for this bull market, with various DeFi protocols, stablecoin protocols, and cross-

Mode Network is a modular Layer2 network based on the OP Stack, adopting the Optimism Bedrock upgrade, which reduces costs by more than 95% compared to the Ethereum mainnet. In 2024, it received a $5.3 million donation from the Optimism Foundation, with part of the donation given to the Optimism Collective. The team is small, with technology adopting a modular concept, suitable for developing on-chain games and trading platforms. Mode Flare has been launched, featuring high throughput, quick deployment, and low transaction fees. There are multiple DeFi projects in the ecosystem, with a TVL exceeding $100 million. The future development is worth attention.

Pixelmon, a project that faced considerable controversy in 2022, announced at the beginning of this month a fundraising of $8 million. Following this, it partnered with MON Protocol to launch the MON token and declared that a public token sale would occur at the end of this month.

In the past, bull markets stimulated user growth, but this growth resembled more of a market volatility effect amplified by leverage, rather than genuine market acceptance. Now, the liquidity surge driving market volatility is about to give way to a permanent structural shift driven by three major positive factors.

The upcoming elections may impact Bitcoin's performance as important macro policy issues such as government deficits and debt, inflation, the independence of the Federal Reserve, and the role of the United States in the world are at stake. Bitcoin is seen as an asset hedging against the devaluation of the US dollar, which could be influenced by the next president's stance on the independence of the Federal Reserve. Additionally, industry-specific legislation and geopolitical factors may also affect Bitcoin's trajectory. Investors can assess the impact of reelection from the statements and actions of the candidates. Government overspending may lead to currency devaluation, and the independence of central banks is also crucial. Recently, CNN reported on two comprehensive bills aimed at promoting responsible financial innovation.

“MapleStory Universe” is based on the MapleStory IP. It has more than 180 million users worldwide and is expected to build a community-centered C2E ecosystem that is different from existing web3 games.

The champions of Pixel NFTs have dominated half of the top 10 spots on the recent BTC NFT hot list, with their avatars composed of small squares. Pixel art NFTs, carrying the nostalgic memories of the 1980s, have become a phenomenon in social circles. The unique style of NFTs attracts both investors and gamers, forming communities and seeking a sense of belonging. NodeMonkes has swiftly risen to become one of the top 3 NFT projects in the crypto world, despite controversies, within just two months. The Jubilee upgrade will bless all inscriptions, and cursed inscriptions will become discontinued, potentially marking a new beginning for the Bitcoin ecosystem. On January 5, 2024, the last cursed inscription was carved on a rare Cong, becoming the final swan song. Rare Satoshi’s carry extremely high premiums, with Block 9 being the oldest among them, and no new Satoshis will be created. The champions of Pixel NFTs have dominated half of the top 10 spots on the recent BTC NFT hot list, with their avatars composed

In the world of cryptocurrency trading, to prevent potential losses, we should keep in mind some important advice: don't blindly pursue excessively high returns, stay away from emotional trading behaviors; establish clear stop-loss mechanisms, maintain investment flexibility; avoid attempting to sell all at once at market peaks, consider exiting gradually; deeply understand the psychological state of investors and maintain a calm mindset. The author advocates for keeping investment strategies simple and clear, staying away from impulsive decisions made in response to market sentiment.

As the altcoin season heats up, the potential for hundredfold returns is on the rise. Renowned crypto KOL Cyril – DeFi has curated 9 crypto tools to help readers accurately identify projects with massive potential through analysis and market research reports.

Axelar is a cross-chain interoperability project that proposes the concept of interchain to provide a unified development environment for Web3 applications. With a team boasting academic backgrounds and development capabilities, it has raised a total of $113.8 million in funding, with investments from prominent institutions. Axelar is connected to 60 chains with over 600 collaborative projects. The AXL token functions in consensus, governance, development, and payments. Axelar's cross-chain solution adopts a "trinity" architecture, ensuring security and scalability. Future plans include the launch of Axelar Virtual Machine and development tools for deploying cross-chain smart contracts. While Axelar demonstrates competitive advantages compared to its counterparts, risks should still be considered.

This article explores inscriptions and their applications on the Bitcoin blockchain, as well as the associated theory of ordinals. By clarifying the confusion between the terms "ordinals" and "inscriptions," this article will help readers understand these two concepts more clearly, delving into their technical foundations and potential impacts on Bitcoin and the crypto industry.

Merlin Chain currently supports Bitcoin protocols including BRC20, BRC420, Bitmap, Ordinals, and will soon support Atomicals, Stamp, Runes, etc. According to official sources, there are currently hundreds of dApps in preparation or online. In a recent AMA, Merlin Chain also announced collaborations with 5 DApp projects. This article will briefly introduce the basics of these pioneering projects.

In the article, we organize seven indicators signals worth investors' attention during a bull market, perhaps providing you with clues to successfully "exit at the peak." Through various indicators and signals, we assist traders in judging market trends and macro conditions.

This article delves into recent trends in the blockchain industry, with a particular focus on the rise of the modular concept and the rapid growth of Ethereum Layer2 assets. The author discusses the advent of the modular era in detail, introduces the new liquidity protocol, Mitosis, and explains how it solves cross-chain liquidity problems, revealing the potential future direction of the blockchain industry for readers.