The week of January 9–15, 2025, brought a wave of innovation and strategic developments across the blockchain and Web3 ecosystem. From institutional-grade financial products to major tech collaborations and high-profile NFT launches, the space continues to mature with real-world integrations and user-centric upgrades. This recap covers pivotal updates from leading protocols and platforms including Ondo Finance, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Solana, Ethereum, Polygon, and prominent NFT projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and Azuki.
Ondo Finance Introduces Tokenized U.S. Treasuries Fund
Ondo Finance has launched a groundbreaking tokenized fund that enables stablecoin holders to gain exposure to traditional financial instruments such as U.S. Treasury bonds. This move bridges decentralized finance (DeFi) with institutional asset classes, offering yield-bearing opportunities backed by real-world assets.
Investors receive on-chain tokens representing their fund shares, which are transferable and compatible with approved smart contracts. The initiative aims to foster a compliant, interoperable financial ecosystem where both permissioned and permissionless assets can coexist securely.
This development underscores the growing trend of real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, positioning DeFi as a viable channel for mainstream investors seeking diversified, transparent, and accessible investment vehicles.
👉 Discover how tokenized assets are reshaping finance in 2025
AWS and Ava Labs Partner to Accelerate Enterprise Blockchain Adoption
In a significant step toward enterprise blockchain integration, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has announced a strategic collaboration with Ava Labs, the core development team behind the Avalanche blockchain.
The partnership will simplify the deployment and management of Avalanche-based nodes, empowering developers to build and scale decentralized applications (dApps) more efficiently. By leveraging AWS’s robust cloud infrastructure, enterprises, governments, and institutions can now explore blockchain solutions with enhanced reliability and scalability.
This alliance highlights the increasing convergence between traditional cloud computing and decentralized technologies—paving the way for broader institutional adoption of blockchain infrastructure.
Solana Ecosystem Shifts and Governance Challenges
Network Upgrade Causes Temporary RPC Downtime
Solana experienced temporary disruptions as its mainnet beta explorer and public RPC endpoints went offline due to a software upgrade. The issue stemmed from a bug identified in version 1.14, affecting nodes running the test build. Users were advised to revert to version 1.13. Notably, block production and network operations remained unaffected.
DOJ Investigates Saber Labs Founders
The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating Saber Labs, a key player in Solana’s DeFi landscape. The probe centers on allegations that co-founders Ian and Dylan Macalinao manipulated total value locked (TVL) metrics using fabricated identities, inflating perceived liquidity across Solana’s ecosystem.
Tiny Colony Moves to Immutable X
Popular Solana-based game Tiny Colony has migrated to Immutable X, a Layer 2 scaling solution for NFTs on Ethereum. The transition follows the game’s success as one of the top-selling titles on Fractal, having raised $3 million and sold over 18,000 digital assets.
Ethereum Advances with New EIPs and Privacy Focus
EIP-5988: Enhancing ZK Proof Efficiency
Ethereum developers submitted EIP-5988, introducing a precompile for the Poseidon hash function. This upgrade aims to improve interoperability between the EVM and ZK rollups, while reducing gas costs for Merkle proof verifications—critical for scalability and privacy applications.
EIP-6269: Defining "Fully Equivalent EVM"
Another key proposal, EIP-6269, standardizes the concept of “fully equivalent EVM,” enabling seamless deployment of Ethereum tooling across Layer 2 networks. This promotes compatibility for debuggers, clients, and standards—supporting the vision of “write once, deploy anywhere.”
Vitalik Emphasizes Wallet Security and Privacy
During an AMA on Reddit, Vitalik Buterin highlighted wallet security—especially through account abstraction (ERC-4337)—and privacy enhancements like ZK solutions and stealth addresses as top priorities beyond scaling.
Layer 2 Momentum Builds Across Networks
- ConsenSys opened private access to its zkEVM testnet, allowing select developers to test dApps on Goerli.
- Mantle launched its public testnet “Wadsley,” branding itself as the first modular Ethereum L2 using EigenLayer for data availability.
- Optimism Goerli was upgraded to Bedrock, cutting gas fees by ~20% and improving deposit speeds ahead of the mainnet rollout.
- Orbiter Finance integrated Taiko’s zkRollup on testnet, expanding cross-L2 bridging options.
- GMX Protocol hit a record $2.74 million in daily fees across Arbitrum and Avalanche, driven by increased margin trading volume.
These advancements reflect growing maturity in the Layer 2 ecosystem, with performance, security, and interoperability at the forefront.
Polygon Pushes for Network Stability via Hard Fork
Polygon developers proposed a hard fork scheduled for January 17 to address recurring issues like gas spikes and chain reorganizations. If approved, the upgrade will enhance transaction finality and overall network resilience—key steps in maintaining trust and usability at scale.
NFT Space Sees Major Releases and Strategic Shifts
Warner Bros. Launches "Game of Thrones" NFT Series
Warner Bros. dropped the first collection of Game of Thrones: Build Your Realm on Nifty, priced at $150 with 5,000 total mints. Released on Ethereum, this continues the studio’s push into Web3 entertainment.
BAYC Unveils Dookey Dash Game
Bored Ape Yacht Club launched Dookey Dash, a mint-to-win game accessible only to BAYC/MAYC holders who claim a free Sewer Pass. Running from January 18 to February 8, it culminates in a chance to convert passes into a mysterious new energy token.
Azuki Launches Community-Built City Hilumia
Azuki officially unveiled Hilumia, a virtual world co-created by its community. Features include Slowpoke’s Toy Haven, Ember Square design hub, Golden Skate Park, and interactive spaces fostering creativity and engagement.
Binance NFT Takes Action on Quality Control
Binance NFT announced it would delist 17 underperforming NFT collections on January 19 to uphold marketplace standards. Simultaneously, it launched an IGO for Fusionist-Bi·Mech, signaling continued support for innovative game assets.
DeGods and y00ts Receive $3M Grant from Polygon
Former Solana bluechips DeGods and y00ts received a $3 million incentive from Polygon to migrate their ecosystems—a strategic win highlighting competition among chains for top-tier NFT projects.
TreasureDAO Proposes End of MAGIC Staking Mine
TreasureDAO’s TIP-23 "Atlas Mine Cataclysm" proposal seeks to phase out the existing MAGIC staking mechanism. If passed:
- Deposits will be disabled starting January 25.
- Locked MAGIC tokens will unlock linearly over 45 days.
- Mining rewards will eventually cease.
Future plans include launching Harvester, rebuilding emission models, creating a decentralized gaming platform ("decentralized Steam"), and introducing social growth mechanics like guilds and referrals.
WOO Network Overhauls Tokenomics in 2025
WOO Network revealed plans to revamp its token economy in Q1 2025, including:
- Burning over 705 million WOO tokens (~24% of max supply).
- Shutting down WOO Ventures, WOO DAO, and the insurance fund.
These changes aim to streamline governance and increase long-term token utility amid evolving market dynamics.
Waves 2.0 Roadmap Unfolds
Waves founder Sasha Ivanov confirmed that Waves 2.0 Litepaper will launch between January and February 2025. Key initiatives include:
- Power Token airdrop.
- New cross-chain bridge.
- Transition of USDN into WIXT, an index token backed by a basket of ecosystem assets instead of USD—though targeting $1 stability.
This marks a bold pivot toward a multi-chain EVM L2 framework designed for interoperability.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is the significance of Ondo Finance’s tokenized U.S. Treasury fund?
A: It enables crypto users to earn yields on real-world assets securely and transparently, accelerating DeFi’s integration with traditional finance.
Q: How does AWS’s partnership with Ava Labs benefit developers?
A: It simplifies node deployment on Avalanche, reducing technical barriers for enterprises building scalable dApps on blockchain.
Q: Why did Tiny Colony leave Solana for Immutable X?
A: To leverage Ethereum’s stronger NFT ecosystem and Immutable X’s gas-free trading and instant finality features.
Q: What are the implications of EIP-5988 for Ethereum?
A: It enhances ZK-rollup efficiency and reduces verification costs, making privacy-preserving technologies more viable on-chain.
Q: Is Dookey Dash open to all NFT holders?
A: No—only BAYC or MAYC holders who claim a free Sewer Pass by January 17 can participate.
Q: Why is Binance delisting certain NFTs?
A: To maintain marketplace quality and protect users by removing underperforming or non-compliant collections.
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