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Why Now is the Perfect Time for Alephium’s Phase 2

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3 months ago

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Alephium recently declared a strategic addition, introducing aligned economics through a protocol-owned Core dApp with staking opportunities for its native coin, $ALPH. The announcement was both timely and exciting.

The Swiss-based Proof-of-Work Layer-1 blockchain is led by Founder and Core Developer Cheng Wang. His team has spent years meticulously engineering a Proof-of-Work L1 that is robust, scalable, secure, and even offers a native smart contract environment.

Innovate in haste, or build sustainably on proven foundations. This was a major issue faced by many Layer-1 blockchains. For them, the challenge of solving the trilemma of scalability, security, and decentralization simultaneously almost always led to compromises.

This isn’t the case with Alephium’s “no tradeoffs” approach. First, they solved the trilemma, now they’re going even further, building out a Core “killer” dApp.

Why not two years ago? Why not five years from now? It’s hard to argue that there’s ever a perfect time for innovation, but in Alephium’s case, the decision to launch Phase Two is a confluence of readiness and necessity.

Layer-1s Must Choose To Be Neutral Hosts or Catalysts

Three years ago, many Layer 1 blockchains agreed the best approach was actually to have no approach at all. They decided to be more hands-off than hands-on when it came to application development. Their objectives and mantras were to deliver secure, performant, and decentralized base layers.

A powerful foundation should essentially serve as the perfect tool to attract and acquire new builders. Then, after builders come dApps, after dApps comes an ecosystem, and after an ecosystem come grants, partnerships, DAOs, and UX gains.

The L1 acts as the top of the funnel. Logic suggests that with a solid and attractive base layer, third-party developer communities would then feel inclined to build a series of dApps, DEXs, and other liquidity protocols.

This was all sound in theory, but chains matured faster than adoption. Attracting significant institutional capital and DeFi builders became slow and complex even for EVM chains. This problem was further compounded for non-EVM chains. As others waited, Alephium continued engineering its trilemma-solving infrastructure.

Multiple network upgrades and innovations followed, driving massive performance gains, such as block times reducing from 64s to 16s, and then 8s. Usability also improved, through a combination of dexX, UX, speed, and scalability.

Network improvements all added on Alephium’s Proof-of-Less-Work (PoLW) consensus mechanism for energy efficiency (87% less than Bitcoin), native BlockFlow sharding for throughput, high-security stateful UTXO (sUTXO) model, and native smart contract environment (with custom VM+ language).

While Alephium was building and shipping, the DeFi industry largely defaulted to using EVM-compatible Layer-2 chains. Naturally, this meant new chains did not have to build everything from the ground up or experiment with novel technologies.

The lure of EVM chains, however, led countless new projects to build on the same, sub-optimal tech, inheriting the same vulnerabilities, security pitfalls, design and UX flaws, and tradeoffs as each other.

The Alephium team chose to press ahead, committed to their own vision and desired outcomes. They were justified, as being non-EVM allowed them to avoid many of the pitfalls that come with some EVM chains, such as high gas fees, reentrancy attacks, and the inability to easily upgrade or debug smart contracts.

So, as some chains choose EVM-compatibility, and other L1s opt to take the “hands off” approach, Alephium’s stance is refreshing. They join Hyperliquid and Injective, two projects that have also demonstrated the power of building a “killer dApp” to showcase their chain’s impressive capabilities and attract users.

“Build It And They Will Come” May Never Be Enough for Non-EVM Chains

Despite building a custom virtual machine (ALPHred) and its own high-performance programming language (Ralph), both of which prevent common reentrancy and approval exploits at the VM level, Alephium will still have to win over the EVM crowd.

A high level of innovation is now the L1’s biggest adoption challenge, as builders and institutions seek simplicity.

“They said Layer 1 blockchains had to compromise: performance for decentralization, usability for security. Alephium chose a different path.” – Alephium Spokesperson

On-chain hedge managers, capital firms, and other entities with substantial AUM operate on a well-established DeFi playbook, deploying capital and applications exclusively across EVM-compatible chains.

It’s plain to see why they’d take this route. Code written in Solidity can be easily duplicated, audited, and re-deployed with minimal re-engineering, giving institutions the “strong guarantees” and audit trails they require.

Since EVM has become the norm, getting partners and support is much harder for those outside the EVM circle. The problem, however, isn’t getting devs. It’s getting top-tier projects that will attract liquidity to the ecosystem. Many investors lack the confidence required to trust a 3rd party dApp or start their DeFi journey on it.

This led Alephium to start building a protocol-owned dApp, in-house. Some may feel a DEX and $ALPH staking are overdue. Others may appreciate Alephium’s focus on creating the “perfect” base layer first. Both may now be satisfied with the announcement.

Further community encouragement may also come from the news that the Research & Development team at Alephium continues to explore breakthrough innovations that could push the boundaries of scalable PoW even further.

Phase Two is Alephium’s Pivot Towards Self-Sustaining Growth

Recognizing the two-sided dynamic, Alephium shared its “Phase 2: Aligned Economics” article on X. Importantly, they’re not abandoning the “neutral host” philosophy of passive blockchains entirely, but instead aim to introduce a new catalyst for ecosystem growth.

The roadmap involves building out an essential “Core dApp” directly, starting with a Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker (CLMM) DEX.

Alephium’s Core dApp will be a protocol-owned, open-source benchmark, that claims to be robust, audited, and institution-ready. It addresses their stated need for “strong guarantees” from large AUM entities head-on, essentially becoming the necessary proof-of-concept.

As a critical piece of the puzzle, this development aims to remove friction for larger players. It also aims to encourage broader ecosystem involvement from DeFi builders, especially those looking to move away from EVM chains and find a new home with better security, developer experience, and longevity.

For a non-EVM chain like Alephium, which doesn’t have the luxury of duplicating existing EVM smart contracts, the outcome of this in-house development will be crucial.

Why “Aligned Economics” Activates a Self-Reinforcing Loop

Phase 2 plans for aligned economics, connecting token utility directly to real usage and chain adoption. This is something missing with many inflationary Layer 1 models, which have struggled to make the leap from speculation and governance to tangible value and compounding utility.

“The problem L1s face is that in the past they were all about narrative and infrastructure. Right now, I think it’s more about utility. It’s about how the protocol can generate its own revenue. One of the best examples is Hyperliquid. It’s an L1, but one of the most profitable dApps in the space. That profit goes directly to the protocol to buy back the tokens and spin the flywheel.” – Alephium Founder, Cheng Wang

In addition, staking ALPH for xALPH will give participants access to composable DeFi strategies, more governance rights through DAO frameworks, and other ecosystem perks. As such, $ALPH should progress from a largely passive asset into an active component of Alephium’s yield-generating ecosystem.

The design is a self-reinforcing loop. Usage on the Core dApp will generate fees, while these fees will drive both burns (tightening supply) and rewards for ALPH stakers (incentivizing long-term holding). The L1 believes this will initiate a period of experimentation, adoption, and TVL growth.

“There’s a very big opportunity here that allows us to leverage ALPH as the token for the dApp and therefore bring utility and yield and serve as the cornerstone for the ecosystem to build on. In addition, of course, there’s an opportunity to develop primitives that really leverage Alephium’s unique design, ones that are open source and a great foundation for people to build on… The Core dApp will act as a bootstrap, magnet, and catalyst for the broader Alephium ecosystem, making us a more desirable prospect for users, liquidity providers, and builders, as well as institutions and large AUM entities.”” – Maud Bannwart, Alephium COO

The Perfect Storm of Readiness and Necessity

Firstly, Alephium is ready. It offers battle-tested optimizations for performance, security, and decentralization, with plans for ongoing major network upgrades. Secondly, the market has also matured. Now, Alephium’s Core dApp development reflects these dual realities.

Has Alephium’s moment to leverage its technical superiority for an aligned economic model finally arrived? The key message here appears to be “more utility, less dilution.” This is a practical and pragmatic approach to ecosystem growth and development.

The timing is ideal, as is to be expected of a Swiss blockchain. This is especially true as Circle, Google, and Stripe have all recently announced they are building L1s. We may well be entering “L1 Season” and the start of a new market trend. If that’s the case, Alephium is already one step ahead.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/alephium

Website: www.alephium.org

Telegram: https://t.me/alephiumgroup

Discord: https://discord.gg/XC5JaaDT7z

Docs: https://docs.alephium.org/

Wallets: https://alephium.org/#wallets

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Cross River Bank Launches Integrated Stablecoin Payment Platform

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1 day ago

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December 5, 2025

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Cross River Bank has launched a stablecoin payment infrastructure integrated directly into its core banking system, marking a major milestone for blockchain-powered finance in 2025. Led by CEO Gilles Gade, the initiative enhances interoperability between fiat banking rails and blockchain networks while ensuring compliance and enterprise-grade security.

This upgrade bridges the gap between stablecoins and traditional banking, offering businesses a faster settlement environment and stimulating market interest through improved payment efficiency and regulatory alignment.

Cross River Bank’s new platform enables seamless interaction between stablecoin transactions and traditional accounts. By embedding the technology into its core system, the bank removes friction typically associated with blockchain payments, creating a unified and compliant framework for real-time transactions. CEO Gilles Gade emphasized the significance of this shift, stating, “We’re building the future of finance… reimagining every corner of banking—from BaaS to lending—to deliver a faster, more connected financial world grounded in safety and trust.” The platform, developed under the leadership of Luca Cosentino, strengthens financial networks through automation, transparency, and speed.

The launch is expected to accelerate stablecoin adoption across business payments and treasury operations. Enterprises seeking secure, blockchain-based financial tools now gain access to a regulated platform capable of handling real-time settlements without compromising compliance. This positions Cross River as one of the first banks to deliver a stablecoin-integrated environment for fintechs, payment processors, and corporate clients.

Industry analysts view this as a pioneering shift. Previous attempts at stablecoin integration often relied on external platforms or fragmented systems. Cross River’s unified ledger approach resolves these issues by offering interoperability, strict compliance, and direct banking support. The move could reshape how enterprises interact with digital assets, enhancing operational efficiency as regulatory clarity around stablecoins continues to evolve globally.

With this step, Cross River Bank moves into a leadership role in the adoption of programmable money, setting the stage for broader integration of blockchain tools within traditional financial services.

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AlphaTON Files $420M Securities Offering to Accelerate TON & Cocoon AI Expansion

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2 days ago

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December 5, 2025

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AlphaTON has officially filed a massive $420.69 million shelf registration, marking a major step forward in the company’s transformation into a core infrastructure provider for the TON blockchain and Telegram’s Cocoon AI ecosystem. The filing became possible after AlphaTON exited the SEC’s “baby shelf rules,” which had previously capped how much capital it could raise in a given year.

According to the company’s December 4 announcement, AlphaTON now has the regulatory flexibility to issue a wide range of securities—common stock, preferred stock, debt instruments, warrants, or mixed units—across multiple offerings whenever market conditions are favorable.

Flexible Funding for AI, GPU Infrastructure, and TON Growth

Now free from earlier fundraising restrictions, AlphaTON plans to use the shelf registration to drive its next phase of expansion. The company outlined several target areas for the funds:

  • Scaling GPU infrastructure to support Cocoon AI, Telegram’s fast-growing decentralized compute ecosystem
  • Expanding deployments of Nvidia B200 GPUs through partnerships with CUDO Compute and AtNorth
  • Funding acquisitions of Telegram- and TON-native businesses
  • Strengthening its digital asset treasury, including ongoing accumulation of TON ecosystem tokens

CEO Brittany Kaiser emphasized that the expanded fundraising capacity allows AlphaTON to “move quickly and decisively” as demand surges for high-performance compute resources powering Cocoon AI.

Acquisitions Targeting Telegram’s 1B User Ecosystem

A large portion of AlphaTON’s strategy focuses on buying revenue-generating businesses already embedded in the Telegram and TON ecosystem. These include startups working on:

  • Blockchain-enabled financial tools
  • Content and creator platforms
  • Payment solutions
  • Gaming infrastructure
  • Decentralized services for Telegram’s massive user base

Each acquisition is expected to strengthen AlphaTON’s portfolio of cash-flowing assets directly linked to Telegram’s growing Web3 environment.

Deepening Commitment to TON and Digital Assets

AlphaTON has steadily increased its exposure to the TON ecosystem since rebranding from Portage Biotech in September 2025. Its strategy includes:

  • Accumulating TON and related tokens such as GAMEE
  • Operating validators and staking nodes to earn yield
  • Deploying GPU fleets for decentralized AI workloads
  • Increasing participation in TON-linked financial instruments

This direction aligns the company with two of the fastest-growing sectors in the blockchain industry: decentralized compute and real-world ecosystem tokenization.

Positioning for a Decentralized AI & TON-Dominated Future

The new $420 million shelf registration comes at a pivotal time. Interest in decentralized AI compute is surging, and TON has rapidly expanded into one of the most active blockchain ecosystems in the world—powered largely by Telegram’s billion-user network.

With new capital flexibility, AlphaTON is now positioned to:

  • Scale its infrastructure at a faster pace
  • Capture larger segments of the TON and Cocoon AI markets
  • Expand its holdings across digital assets and AI-driven services
  • Strengthen its operational footprint ahead of future strategic milestones

AlphaTON’s latest filing indicates a company entering an aggressive expansion cycle, with significant implications for the future of TON, Telegram’s AI ecosystem, and decentralized compute infrastructure.

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Meteora: The Liquidity Machine That Crawled Out of the Ruins

Published

3 days ago

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December 4, 2025

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How a forgotten protocol rebuilt itself into Solana’s liquidity backbone—and the battles that shaped its rise.

It All Started With a Name Everyone Forgot

On Solana, projects rise and vanish faster than most people can track. When the FTX collapse tore through the ecosystem in late 2022, Mercurial became one of the many casualties.
Its treasury was trapped, its token collapsed, and the once-active community faded into silence.

Most people moved on.

But a small faction didn’t.
The group that would eventually build Meteora refused to walk away. They knew Mercurial couldn’t be revived—the damage was too deep. So instead of trying to fix the past, they chose to rebuild everything from scratch.

Their mindset shifted:

“Don’t repair the old machine. Build something engineered for Solana’s speed.”

And so Meteora was born—not a rebrand, but a complete reboot designed to answer one question:

What should liquidity look like on a chain that operates faster than anything else in crypto?

Where Meteora Began: Reinventing Liquidity

The answer became the Dynamic Liquidity Market Maker (DLMM).

Unlike traditional AMMs with smooth pricing curves, DLMM uses:

  • Discrete price bins
  • Zero-slippage trades inside each bin
  • Bin-to-bin price progression
  • Real-time liquidity intelligence

This wasn’t a pool—it was a high-speed liquidity engine, built to operate in milliseconds, just like Solana itself.

By early 2024, momentum exploded:

  • Trading volume surged
  • TVL stabilized
  • Market makers migrated from Raydium and Orca
  • Jupiter began routing heavy flow to DLMM

By early 2025, Meteora was processing $33 billion in monthly volume.
A protocol once written off as dead had become Solana’s liquidity backbone.

But Solana rewards speed—and punishes hesitation.

And soon, Meteora faced the first real test of its new era.

Glory and Pressure in the Age of Algorithms

DLMM turned Meteora into a star.
LPs earned more, traders got better quotes, and Jupiter treated DLMM as the default route.

Then came HumidiFi—out of absolutely nowhere.

It had:

  • No front end
  • No community
  • No public LPs
  • Zero transparency

Yet it instantly competed with Meteora.
Sometimes it even won.

Why?
HumidiFi operated like a dark pool on Solana, run by a private market-making entity.

Its spreads were razor-thin—as low as five basis points.

Jupiter didn’t care about decentralization.
It cared about the best price.

For Meteora, this wasn’t just rivalry—
It was an existential question:

Can open liquidity survive in a market where secrecy performs better?

DLMM’s full transparency—once its greatest strength—became a tactical weakness.
Competitors could study it in real time.
HumidiFi revealed nothing.

As one developer joked:

“Meteora showed everyone its engine. HumidiFi covered its engine in smoke—and somehow went faster.”

And just as the team began adapting to this new reality, a storm hit from an entirely different direction.

The TGE That Tested Everything

On October 23, 2025, Meteora launched its long-awaited token through a “Liquid Launch”:

  • No lockups
  • No VC allocations
  • No vesting
  • Nearly half of the supply—48%—released on day one

It was radical transparency.

But Solana moves at lightning speed.
Within seconds, the entire float was absorbed.
Sell pressure exploded.
Buy walls couldn’t form fast enough.

Within days, $MET fell over 70%.

Supporters admired the honesty.
Critics called it irresponsible.

Before sentiment recovered, another blow landed:
Co-founder Ben Chow was named in a class-action lawsuit tied to unrelated memecoin projects.

It wasn’t connected to Meteora—but timing is everything in crypto.

Confidence slipped.
FUD spread.
Every crack became visible.

But the engine?
It kept running.

  • DLMM executed flawlessly
  • Billions flowed through daily
  • LP yields held strong
  • Jupiter kept routing to Meteora

Beneath the surface, the real question lingered:

Can a radically transparent protocol survive in a market that rewards shadows?

What Comes Next

By early 2026, Meteora made its move—not by retreating, but by doubling down.

Key initiatives included:

Launch Suite 2.0

A rebuilt, safer, more transparent token-launch framework.

Enhanced Anti-Bot Infrastructure

Designed for Solana’s extreme speed environment.

DLMM Upgrades

Faster bin adjustments, better fairness, smarter liquidity logic.

HumidiFi remained a rival—but Meteora chose not to copy it.
Instead, it leaned harder into:

  • Openness
  • Design precision
  • Engineering excellence

Their philosophy became clear:

You don’t beat dark pools by becoming a dark pool—you beat them by out-engineering them.

A Protocol Forged in Chaos

Solana hasn’t slowed down, and neither has Meteora.

Despite storms, controversies, rivals, and market volatility, Meteora continues to anchor massive trading flows across the network. Its story mirrors Solana’s own:

  • Brutal
  • Fast
  • Relentless
  • Always moving forward

Born in collapse.
Rebuilt through innovation.
Tempered by volatility.

Meteora is no longer a comeback story—it’s a reminder of what still drives Solana:

Speed, risk, and the belief that better systems are always possible.

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