The Qtum ecosystem continued its momentum in September with significant progress across decentralized finance (DeFi), staking infrastructure, and developer tools. As blockchain technology evolves, Qtum is positioning itself as a scalable, developer-friendly platform tailored for real-world DeFi applications—without compromising on security or decentralization.
This month’s highlights include the ongoing Stake-A-Thon, the expansion of the Qtum DeFi Grant Program, and growing adoption through key partnerships and listings. Let’s dive into the developments that are shaping Qtum’s trajectory in 2025.
Qtum’s DeFi Grant Program: Fueling Innovation
To accelerate the growth of its decentralized ecosystem, Qtum has committed up to $5 million in grants for developers building DeFi solutions on the Qtum blockchain. The response has been strong, with numerous high-potential projects already applying.
Why build DeFi on Qtum? The answer lies in three core strengths:
- High throughput (TPS) for seamless transaction processing
- Low transaction fees, making micro-transactions viable
- Parameter flexibility—network upgrades can be implemented without disruptive hard forks
Whether you're leading a full development team or an independent builder with a bold idea, Qtum offers the infrastructure and financial support to bring transformative DeFi applications to life.
👉 Discover how you can launch your next breakthrough DeFi project with Qtum’s grant program.
Stake-A-Thon: Revolutionizing Proof-of-Stake Accessibility
Launched on August 30, 2020, the Qtum Offline Staking Stake-A-Thon remains a cornerstone initiative to promote Qtum’s innovative staking protocol. Unlike traditional proof-of-stake systems, Offline Staking allows users to earn block rewards while retaining full control of their funds—no need to run a full node or keep wallets online.
This “Staking-as-a-Service” model lowers the barrier to entry and enhances security, making Qtum one of the most accessible staking platforms in the crypto space.
Participants can join the Stake-A-Thon in three ways:
- Address delegation: Delegate directly from your wallet address
- Super Staker: Run your own validator node and accept delegations
- Pool delegation: Join an existing staking pool
Within the first two weeks of launch, 5% of all block rewards were claimed by Super Stakers. By mid-September, that number grew to 7.2%, with 678 block rewards distributed between delegators and validators—an impressive community-driven achievement.
New Offline Staking Providers Expand Access
The success of Offline Staking is being amplified by third-party service providers who now support Qtum’s protocol.
Staked.us
In early September, Staked.us announced official support for Qtum Offline Staking and has already minted multiple blocks, demonstrating robust integration and reliability.
Everstake
Emerging as a leader in the Stake Race, Everstake now has over 1 million QTUM delegated to its Super Staker node—a testament to user trust and platform performance.
These partnerships are critical in expanding Qtum’s staking ecosystem and attracting both retail and institutional participants.
Exchange Listings and Market Visibility
Crypto.com Adds Qtum Support
A major milestone this month: Crypto.com now supports deposits and withdrawals for QTUM. This integration increases liquidity and accessibility for millions of users worldwide.
In an exclusive AMA with Crypto.com, Qtum co-founder Patrick Dai revealed upcoming plans for a network upgrade aimed at reducing block times, further optimizing the blockchain for DeFi use cases.
DeFi Ecosystem Growth: Cross-Chain Integration
Komodo’s AtomicDEX (Now AtomicDeFi) Supports QRC20 Tokens
In a landmark collaboration, Komodo’s AtomicDEX—now rebranded as AtomicDeFi—has integrated support for QRC20 tokens. This enables Qtum-based projects to leverage atomic swap technology for cross-chain wallet functionality, decentralized exchanges (DEX), and dApp development.
“It’s the first #DeFi collaboration of its kind with atomic swap technology and gives projects a cross-chain and cross-protocol bridge.”
This integration opens new interoperability pathways, allowing Qtum-based assets to flow securely across blockchains without intermediaries.
Bitpie Adds Full QRC20 Support
Bitpie, one of China’s largest multi-currency wallets—backed by China Merchants Bank—has added full support for all Qtum QRC20 tokens. This move is particularly significant for Qtum’s Asian community, potentially driving a surge in new token deployments and DeFi project launches.
Core Technical Upgrades: Building the Foundation
Behind every successful blockchain is robust technical infrastructure. September saw several key updates across Qtum’s core tools:
Qtum Core: Enhanced RPC Functionality
The callcontract RPC method now includes an amount option, allowing developers to simulate value transfers during local contract queries. This improvement is essential for accurate gas estimation and safer smart contract testing.
Qtum JS Wallet: Developer-Focused Improvements
Progress continues on the client-side JavaScript wallet library, a critical tool for front-end DeFi applications. Updates this month focused on stability, usability, and compatibility with emerging dApps.
Janus: Bridging Ethereum and Qtum
The Janus adapter, which translates Ethereum JSON-RPC calls into Qtum-compatible formats, is under active development. Once complete, it will allow Ethereum developers to deploy Solidity-based smart contracts on Qtum with minimal changes—unlocking “money legos” across ecosystems.
Qtum Electrum: Lightweight Wallet Enhancements
The Qtum Electrum wallet received updates to better support Offline Staking and improved interaction with the Qtum Lightning Network (still in development). Work is also underway to integrate Ledger hardware wallet support, pending necessary firmware updates from Ledger.
Qtum.info UI Improvements
The blockchain explorer at qtum.info was updated with enhanced features for querying Offline Staking data, improving transparency and user experience.
Media Recognition and Industry Insights
Qtum’s innovations did not go unnoticed this month. Several prominent crypto publications highlighted its advancements:
- Bitcoinist featured Qtum in "Staking Rewards: Top Crypto Platforms for Passive Income in 2025", praising its unique Offline Staking model.
- Cryptodaily included Qtum in a comprehensive staking platform comparison, citing support from major players like Binance and Huobi.
- In "Challenging Ethereum 2.0?", analysts noted that Qtum already delivers features like fast finality and low-cost transactions—capabilities still pending on Ethereum’s roadmap.
- With rising gas fees stifling DeFi growth on Ethereum, Qtum co-founder Jordan Earls shared expert insights on scalability challenges, reinforcing Qtum’s value proposition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What is Offline Staking, and how is it different from regular staking?
A: Offline Staking allows users to earn block rewards without keeping their wallets online or running a full node. Funds remain under user control at all times, enhancing both convenience and security.
Q: How can I apply for the Qtum DeFi Grant Program?
A: Developers can submit proposals through the official Qtum Foundation channels. Projects should focus on building scalable, user-friendly DeFi applications leveraging Qtum’s unique architecture.
Q: Can Ethereum developers build on Qtum?
A: Yes! Thanks to the Janus adapter and EVM compatibility, Ethereum developers can port Solidity smart contracts to Qtum with minimal adjustments.
Q: Is Qtum suitable for high-frequency DeFi applications?
A: Absolutely. With high TPS, low fees, and planned block time reductions, Qtum is engineered to support fast, cost-effective DeFi interactions.
Q: Are there hardware wallet options for securing QTUM?
A: Yes—Qtum Electrum is working toward Ledger integration. Until then, users can securely manage funds using offline signing methods.
Q: Where can I stake QTUM today?
A: You can participate via Super Stakers like Everstake or use services like Staked.us. The Stake-A-Thon offers incentives for early adopters.
As 2025 progresses, Qtum continues to strengthen its position as a pragmatic, scalable blockchain for real-world DeFi innovation. With growing exchange support, active developer grants, and continuous technical refinement, the network is well-equipped to meet the demands of a maturing decentralized economy.
Whether you're a developer, investor, or long-term supporter, now is an exciting time to engage with the Qtum ecosystem.
👉 Start building, staking, or exploring DeFi opportunities on Qtum now.
Core Keywords: Qtum, DeFi, Offline Staking, QRC20, blockchain scalability, smart contracts, staking rewards