Knock-knock, we bring the latest news of the week just in time for heated discussions!
This week brought several notable developments across the crypto ecosystem, from rising Ethereum adoption to market shocks caused by API changes and major acquisitions by blockchain companies.
Before diving into the news break, take a moment to explore how Evercode Lab can support your Web3 ambitions. With our white-label solutions, you can develop and launch your own crypto or Web3 product faster, easier, and with full technical support at every stage: from concept to release.
Ethereum Sees a Surge in New Users
According to on-chain analytics firm Glassnode, the Month-over-Month Activity Retention has doubled in recent weeks.
Experts attributed this dynamic to a large-scale influx of new users, rather than to the actions of long-time market participants. The number of addresses interacting with the blockchain for the first time in the last 30 days has jumped from 4 million to 8 million.
The activity of Ethereum users is breaking records. According to Etherscan, on January 15, the number of addresses in the network crossed the 1 million mark, which is more than twice as high as last year (410,000).
This sharp increase suggests renewed interest in the Ethereum network, driven by growing activity in DeFi, NFTs, and Layer 2 solutions.
Analysts point out that lower transaction fees and continuous network upgrades are making Ethereum more accessible for newcomers.
X Changes API Policy, Kaito Token Collapses
This week, a sudden change in X’s API policy caused a sharp decline in the price of the Kaito token.
The social network revised the API usage policy by third-party developers, limiting applications that rewarded users for publishing. This was announced by Nikita Beer, the head of product at the platform.
This segment of projects, mainly cryptocurrencies, is called InfoFi. According to Beer, his popularity has led to the spread of a huge amount of AI-slop and replay spam in X.
After the announcement of the changes, the native token of Kaito (KAITO), one of the most popular InfoFi platforms, fell by almost 20%, from $0.7 to $0.55.
Ethereum Gas Becomes a Tradable Asset With Gwei Token
And another great news about ETH. Ethereum is moving toward a new model where gas fees become a tradable asset through the launch of the GWEI token.
For the contex: the ETHGas protocol will launch the GWEI management token. The goal is to transform the Ethereum block space into a programmable and tradable asset.
According to the developers, Ethereum remains the leading settlement layer in the crypto industry, but the current block space allocation mechanism cannot cope with application requests. The result is transaction delays and sharp surges in fees.
To solve the problem, the ETHGas team proposed changing the access scheme to the space in the blocks.
By turning gas into a market-driven instrument, Ethereum could reduce fee volatility and improve user experience during periods of high network activity. However, critics warn that added financial complexity could introduce new risks if not carefully managed.
Polygon Labs Acquires Two Crypto Startups for $250M
Polygon Labs announced the acquisition of two crypto startups, Coinme and Sequence, in a deal valued at $250 million.
Acquisitions have become part of the developer’s new strategy for developing the stablecoin business.
Sandeep Nailwal, founder of the Polygon Foundation, said that the company is transforming into a full-fledged fintech business and is entering into direct competition with the Stripe payment giant.
This acquisition also signals strong confidence in the long-term growth of Layer 2 solutions, even amid market uncertainty.
Final Thoughts
As always, understanding these shifts is key to navigating the next phase of the crypto industry. Stay tuned with Evercode Lab for more weekly insights into blockchain trends, and explore how our white-label solutions can help your business innovate and thrive in the fast-moving Web3 ecosystem.