No weekly Empire roundup this week unfortunately, but we'll be back next week! In the meantime, enjoy this episode from another Blockworks podcast Expansion.

In this week's roundup, we discuss crypto’s momentum shift, Ethereum DA, and Kaito’s token launch. We also unpacked the implications of centralized companies operating onchain. Finally, we ended the episode with discussion on the current state of bridging UX. Enjoy!

Resources

C-node’s Take: https://x.com/colludingnode/status/1891862449663463506

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Join us at DAS NYC 2025! Use code EXPANSION10 for a 10% discount: https://blockworks.co/event/digital-asset-summit-2025-new-york

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ZKsync is the pioneering zero-knowledge technology powering the next generation of builders with limitless scale. Secured by math and designed for native interoperability, ZKsync enables an elastic, ever-expanding network of customizable chains.

Deeply rooted in its mission to advance personal freedom for all, the ZKsync technology makes digital self-ownership universally available. To learn more about ZKsync, visit https://zksync.io/empire

Unichain is a fast, decentralized L2 that’s built to be the home for DeFi and liquidity across chains.

To stay updated on news including the upcoming launch of Unichain, visit www.Unichain.org or follow @Unichain on X.

Ledger, the world leader in digital asset security, proudly sponsors Empire podcast. Celebrating 10 years of protecting over 20% of the world’s crypto, Ledger ensures the security of your assets. For the best self-custody solution in the space, buy a LEDGER™ device and secure your crypto today.

Buy now at www.Ledger.com

Mantle is evolving into the premier on-chain financial hub, supercharging the ecosystem that bridges blockchain with banking. The 2025 roadmap introduces three transformative products:

- Enhanced Index Fund (launching Q1) offering optimized crypto exposure to BTC, ETH, SOL and USD with built-in yield optimization - targeting $1B AUM

- Mantle Banking for seamless financial services

- MantleX for AI-powered innovation

Backed by a $4.5B treasury, Mantle is building the future of on-chain finance – accessible for everyone.

Learn more: https://x.com/Mantle_Official/status/1882017058680086805

AO Mainnet is LIVE! Experience the future of decentralized computing: infinite parallel processing, secure TEE-powered computations, and LLMs in smart contracts. Built on Arweave, AO's modular design shatters scalability limits. 100% of tokens are distributed to Arweave holders and bridge depositors, with a fixed supply and halving. Explore AO today: https://ao.arweave.dev

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introduction

(00:19) Feeling Optimistic On Crypto

(10:31) Ads ZKSync & Uniswap

(12:39) Crypto's Momentum Shift

(19:30) Ads ZKSync & Uniswap

(21:38) Scaling Ethereum DA

(38:29) Ads Ledger, Mantle, Arweave

(40:54) Kaito's Token Launch & Centralized Companies Onchain

(54:56) Bridging UX & Interop

Disclaimer:

Expansion was kickstarted by a grant from the Celestia Foundation.

Nothing said on Expansion is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Michael, Nick, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.

Crypto’s Momentum Shift, Kaito’s Token Launch, and Bridging UX | Roundup