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Circle has introduced an upgrade of its cross-chain transfer protocol, enabling the settlement of USDC transactions within seconds. Developers can now tap into the new version of the cross-chain transfer protocol for USDC ( USDC ) transfers that will settle in seconds, Circle said in an announcement . Circle achieves the enhanced CCTP v2 through two key features: Fast Transfer and Hooks. The new fast transfer feature will reduce USDC settlement times from as high as 15 minutes on Ethereum ( ETH ) and layer-2 networks to just seconds. CCTP v2 will offer this capability regardless of the transaction’s source blockchain. Apart from faster-than-finality settlement, v2’s Hooks feature also enhances composability for smart contracts. This means developers can automate post-transfer actions on the chain receiving the USDC transfer. “Traditional cross-chain flows are often riddled with additional trust assumptions, block-finality delays, and liquidity fragmentation,” Jonathan Lim, principal product manager at Circle, said. “CCTP V2 mitigates these issues, and paves the way for improved cross-chain USDC liquidity, enhanced cross-chain UX, and institutional-grade cross-chain infrastructure for crypto capital markets.” The upgrade to CCTP comes a few days after Circle added support for passkeys to its Modular Wallets, which the company said would help unlock a better transaction experience for USDC users. Passkeys allow developers to enable easy user onboarding and offer secure USDC transactions. The key improvement lies in enhanced authentication flows, the firm noted. According to Circle, CCTP v2 will still support the cross-chain transfer speeds for USDC currently available via CCTP v1. This Standard Transfer time allows transactions to settle according to the finality time of the given blockchain. v2 launches with initial support for the Avalanche, Base, and Ethereum networks. The company plans to expand the features to more chains. Meanwhile, Wormhole, Mayan, Interport, and Socket are among the top apps, bridges, and infrastructure platforms that have already integrated CCTP v2. Circle introduced its cross-chain transfer protocol in April 2023, and it has since gained adoption across the ecosystem. Integration across leading blockchain networks and protocols has contributed to its growth.

Base, the layer-2 network by Coinbase, could dominate the decentralized finance and consumer applications market starting in the second quarter, according to blockchain analytics firm Nansen. Nansen’s latest report highlights on-chain activity, robust metrics, and a growing user base as some of the catalysts that signal a potential explosive performance for Base in Q2. This suggests the L2’s continued rise as a core DeFi platform. Beyond leading the next generation of consumer applications, the tailwinds heading into the next quarter shine a spotlight on ecosystem projects and tokens, including the likes of Virtuals Protocol ( VIRTUAL ) and Aerodrome Finance ( AERO ). Strong catalysts for Base in Q2, likely to push total value locked even higher include new app-chains, effect of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission dropping its lawsuit against Coinbase and the growing pro-crypto landscape. “Base is Coinbase’s direct bet on an onchain future and given the large network effects and scale of Coinbase, we see Base positioned strongly,” Nansen wrote in its report. Combining these catalysts with strong on-chain traction across traditional metrics, such as TVL, stablecoin velocity, and daily active users, paints a bullish future for Base. These metrics reflect developer activity, roadmaps, and funding, forming part of a compelling narrative for Base’s growth. Nansen analysts view this “State of the Chain” as what sets Base apart from other L2s. Flashblocks, currently live on testnet and set for a mainnet launch in Q2, along with Base appchains and smart wallet sub-accounts scheduled for release in Q2, are notable developments that strengthen Base’s growth outlook. While Base itself still has no native token, analysts see memecoins and artificial intelligence-linked tokens as some of the assets likely to offer directional exposure to the L2. Projects such as VIRTUAL, AERO and others offer potentially great entry points given their current performances. The narratives to watch include DeFi meta, gaming, SocialFi and payments. Listing on Coinbase and expansion to Solana are also key ecosystem milestones. Bitcoin ( BTC ) performance is another. “With BTC still trading in a range, we’re not in a rush to time altcoin trades, but positioning for a potential breakout remains key. If the momentum shifts, Base-native assets could outperform significantly,” the analysts opined.

Transacting on Ethereum or executing a smart contract, you pay a “gas fee.” These fees are denominated in Gwei, which might seem odd since Ether (ETH) is Ethereum’s native currency. Well, Gwei is ETH, and technically, it is a denomination of cryptocurrency. The Ethereum network…

Diego Gutiérrez Zaldívar was at the forefront of digital innovation in Argentina in 1995, when the internet was still in its early stages. Driven by an unquenchable enthusiasm, he participated in pioneering projects including Patagon.com, a financial community subsequently bought for hundreds of millions of dollars by a big bank, and Clarín Digital, the website of Argentina’s biggest newspaper. But who would have guessed that Diego’s journey would bring him to rank among the main players in the Latin American blockchain and crypto industry? His journey into the world of Bitcoin started in 2011. Like finding a treasure map, Diego saw something that not many people realized: this technology could be the foundation of a new global financial system. However, simply recognizing its potential was not enough—Diego wanted to make sure Bitcoin was widely known and actually used. In 2012, he started the Bitcoin community in Argentina . Not alone, he worked with several groups to create Fundación Bitcoin Argentina, a company meant to hasten Bitcoin acceptance. On the other hand, he also helped create a network of Bitcoin communities spread across different Latin American countries. His enthusiasm was straightforward: everyone should be able to access the financial world, not only those who already enjoy economic privileges. Diego did not stop at the community. Though strong as a digital currency, he came to see that Bitcoin lacked smart contract capability. Ethereum had already presented this answer, but Diego noticed that Bitcoin ought to have the same qualities without compromising its security. This is where RSK (Rootstock) was founded. Diego created a platform together with his team that let Bitcoin have smart contract capabilities, transforming it from a mere transaction tool. RSK opened the path for several decentralized finance (DeFi) applications based on Bitcoin, much as adding a brain to an already strong body. Eventually, Diego’s diligence paid off. His induction into the Crypto Hall of Fame in 2021 marks him on par with other blockchain pioneers. But Diego sees this as a new challenge rather than depending just on his laurels. For him, this technology is about how to make it more accessible rather than only about innovation. Not stopping at blockchain, he also started Koibanx, a business leveraging technology to promote financial inclusion. His objective is obvious: he wants to make financial services more available, particularly to people who the traditional banking system has excluded. Diego is not the kind to stop innovating given his record. DeFi , Bitcoin, and other blockchain-based economic models are becoming more and more popular, thus his influence in the sector probably will become even more significant. He has shown that starting the first step counts more in innovation than just technology. Diego Gutiérrez Zaldívar has demonstrated from his early days on the web to now spearheading the blockchain revolution that technology can be a tool for transformation. The crypto world will keep observing his moves ahead not only for his achievements but also for the ideas and vision that keep stretching the bounds of what is practical.

Golden rule: two heads always think better than one. This applies very well to both web3 security and to business. Always talk out ideas and decisions. And surround yourself with smart people, it will make the difference for you, I guarantee it🫡