Unichain, launched by Uniswap Labs, is a highly scalable and low-cost Layer 2 optimistic rollup for Ethereum.

 (UNI) is one of the blockchain industry's earliest and largest 

 (DeFi) platforms. Having pioneered the concepts of the 

, Uniswap has long held the pole position among 

Despite these pioneering achievements, Uniswap, just as every other Ethereum (ETH)–based DeFi app, has faced its fair share of issues. Most of these are attributable to Ethereum's network congestion, limited scalability, high transaction costs and less-than-optimal block validation schedule.

Through the years of supporting Uniswap, the Uniswap Labs team has gained vast experience in Ethereum-based DeFi. They’ve put all the insight and lessons learned into Unichain, a solution aimed at replicating Uniswap's success.

In late 2024, Uniswap Labs made a pivotal move by introducing Unichain, a DeFi-focused 

 network that aims to address the drawbacks of transacting directly on 

 mode as of early November 2024, Unichain offers a plethora of advantages over Ethereum, including low transaction costs, cross-chain interoperability, one-second block times and a trusted execution environment that improves the transparency of transaction ordering.

 is a highly scalable and low-cost Layer 2 blockchain network designed for DeFi use cases. 

Launched by Uniswap's developer, Uniswap Labs, the Unichain platform features low transaction costs, great scalability, cross-chain interoperability, secure and transparent block validation procedures and one-second block confirmation times.

Built using the popular Layer 2 development framework OP Stack, Unichain is an 

 (EVM) compatibility. Unichain also features underlying OP Stack technology, making it a member of the 

 Superchain, a network of optimistic rollup platforms based on this technology. As part of the Superchain, Unichain boasts smooth interoperability with the other networks in this ecosystem.

Unichain's testnet was launched in early October 2024, with the mainnet promised to be "coming soon" as of the time of this writing (Nov 4, 2024).

The primary motivation behind launching Unichain can be found in Ethereum's never-ending scalability and cost issues. In September 2022, the Ethereum blockchain 

 proof of work (PoW) block validation model to the much more efficient proof of stake (PoS) via 

, which was widely publicized until its eventual implementation. Some hoped this move would reduce costs and the speed of transacting on the chain, both of which had been major drawbacks of Ethereum's Layer 1 blockchain. However, The Merge has not resulted in meaningful reductions in either costs or speed.

As of late 2024, Ethereum users continue to encounter high fees and limited scalability, mainly due to high network demand. These limitations are particularly detrimental to DeFi apps, including the Uniswap DEX. Ethereum’s block production interval of 12 seconds may not seem slow. However, 

 is increased due to the delay between swap order placement and transaction finalization on its chain, and 

 make coin swaps and other DeFi operations expensive, leading to significant losses for traders. In addition, slow transaction times increase the risk of position and vault liquidations. 

Some DeFi protocols liquidate user vaults and collateral when their value drops below a certain threshold. Slow transaction confirmations on Ethereum make vault and collateral value adjustments/recalculations less timely, increasing the risk of unnecessary liquidations.

In addition to speed and cost inefficiencies, Ethereum is also subject to manipulative behavior from some block validators who try to rearrange pending transactions in a way that increases 

 (MEV). In such scenarios, a validator picks and chooses transactions to include in the next block (and their particular order) for their own benefit. This can sometimes lead to 

, in which a validator might move a specific impactful transaction that’s likely to raise the price of an asset to the front of the queue, while buying the asset before the transaction's finalization — a move that some might call "insider trading blockchain-style."

The cost, scalability and transparency issues above have all motivated the Uniswap Labs team to launch its own DeFi-focused Layer 2 platform: Unichain.

By moving transaction processing to Layer 2, Unichain hopes to reduce gas fees by as much as 95% compared to directly transacting on Ethereum.

Unichain features block production times of just one second, or twelve times as fast as Ethereum's block times. This should greatly improve the efficiency of DeFi operations through reduced slippage rates, more stable gas fees and decreased occurrence of failed transactions, all of which will contribute to an enhanced overall user experience.

Unichain will maintain its own set of validator nodes in order to enhance its network's efficiency, decentralization and transparency. Node operators have to stake UNI on the Ethereum network to be a validator on Unichain.

Transparent block validation and sequencing

Unichain’s platform separates the role of block building (the process of constructing blocks and organizing transactions within a block) from sequencing (ensures the correct ordering of blocks on-chain) with the use of

 (TEE). This allows all block validation and sequencing procedures to be independently verified, mitigating potential manipulation risks from the sequencer alone.

As a member of the OP Superchain, Unichain is highly compatible with all of the rollup networks within this popular ecosystem. As of early November 2024, there are 

 within the Superchain, including Unichain and Optimism's own mainnet. This should create opportunities for a variety of cross-platform DeFi solutions, such as low-cost, efficient cross-chain liquidity provision and swaps.

Unichain operates as an optimistic Layer 2 rollup linked to Ethereum, utilizing its own validators alongside a sequencer responsible for broadcasting pre-built blocks. While the sequencer, run by Uniswap Labs, is a single entity, the decentralized validation network ensures independence from its influence. 

The block building validation process takes place within the TEE, which helps ensure the transparency of transaction processing. Both the decentralized validator network and the TEE help minimize the occurrence of conflicting or invalid blocks, a common problem on Ethereum that leads to failed transactions, delays, increased slippage and a frustrating overall user experience.

While the standard block production times on Unichain are set at one second, plans are in place to introduce 0.25-second sub-blocks to further optimize transaction processing speed and scalability.

For too long, Ethereum's cost, scale and speed issues have hampered the broader adoption of DeFi and decreased market efficiency within the crypto sector. By introducing a highly scalable, low-cost and transparent Layer 2 solution, Uniswap Labs aims to completely change the DeFi industry's dynamics. Unichain's stellar technical features will likely lead to significant improvements for DeFi operators and traders.

Intermediate

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What Is Unichain — And How Does It Relate to Uniswap?

Aethir is a distributed GPU computing solution providing a cloud infrastructure that allows businesses to access powerful graphics processing units.

 industry promises to provide a lot of exciting new technologies. However, it's important to keep in mind that web3 products aren't always lines of code. Just like traditional computing, web3 designs still need to be run on reliable, effective computer hardware. 

Aethir hopes to provide new businesses with computing assistance by offering convenient connections to graphics processing units (GPUs) and supporting an explosion of web3 growth. Keep reading to check out Aethir's business model and see how it can benefit investors.

 is a distributed GPU computing solution for web3 products. It provides a cloud infrastructure that allows businesses to access powerful graphics processing units capable of running their games, AI models and other designs.

Aethir was founded in 2021 by Mark Rydon and Daniel Wang. Wang is a blockchain advisor who has worked with multiple web3 games, while Rydon is a venture capitalist with an interest in digital and traditional gaming. During their time in the blockchain industry, they started to notice a need for better GPU services. 

, Aethir's founders began working to create a new method for matching GPU owners with web3 projects that need more computing power. 

Aethir's mission has attracted support from many reliable organizations. The project is backed by NVIDIA, one of the leading producers of computer GPUs, and Aethir has partnered with CARV, the largest modular data layer in the AI gaming ecosystem. Aethir has also raised over $9 million worth of funding through various investors.

Aethir was designed to tackle one of the most common problems in the web3 space: currently, many sectors such as AI and gaming have great ideas but struggle to develop their concepts. Processing all the lines of code and turning that into realistic graphics and appealing images takes a lot of expensive equipment that the average startup doesn't have.

Aethir realized that many commercial GPUs are underutilized. While data centers often focus on providing CPU power, their GPUs sit idle. Aethir provides a simple way of connecting to this idle GPU processing power in order to make it fast, easy and affordable for any web3 project to purchase graphics processing services from Aethir’s decentralized computing infrastructure.

Aethir is a decentralized cloud infrastructure that relies on a series of connected nodes that communicate wirelessly. In addition to its hardware and coding, the Aethir platform also uses the blockchain technology of the 

 chain to manage its user acquisition costs and distributed GPU computing. 

Aethir’s main framework consists of a container, an indexer and a checker. The indexer matches users with GPUs that fulfill their requirements, and the container sends rendering services remotely through the cloud. The checker records transactions, organizes services and regulates container usage. Aethir’s network also employs these mechanics to provide its users with effective GPU services. 

 method. The network consists of multiple checker node operators who handle GPU tasks individually. Every 15 minutes, a collection of nodes is checked for quality. Each node operator who performs quality work is then selected to work with users. This system functions like a modular data layer that ensures user acquisition costs are paid and members get effective GPU services. 

Aethir recognizes that one-size-fits-all services aren't optimal. Instead of pooling all GPU resources, each node operator is an individual resource. Aethir matches node operators into containers that perform specific applications, and then pairs them with projects that require their specific graphical requirements and processing speeds. 

From a modular data layer integrated into its system to its decentralized cloud infrastructure, Aethir offers many important services. Following are some of the features users can explore through the Aethir platform.

 are an essential part of handling Aethir’s cloud gaming enterprises. People can sign up to be Checker Node operators if they want to earn money from their idle GPU processing power. Each node operator ends up providing the computer power that ends up doing things like rendering a game or running an artificial intelligence (AI) model.

Aethir Edge is a computing service integrated into the main Aethir cloud. It allows even more in-depth GPU provision than Aethir Checker. It’s also a hardware service that helps manage the decentralized network of GPUs. Users who sign up to run an Aethir Edge device earn even more rewards than standard Aethir Node operators.

Aethir Earth is the cloud-based portion of Aethir's GPU computing options. People interested in getting processing assistance can sign up to enjoy wireless processing without needing to own any pricey hardware. Fees for Aethir Earth's GPU computing vary based on the number of other people bidding for service.

Aethir's rendering services are ideal for game designers. People who purchase from Aethir’s GPU cloud to run a game also get access to helpful software tools for designing gaming items. To assist with running games, Aethir has even integrated the largest modular data layer in the web3 ecosystem into its program: with CARV, users can explore a variety of services for safeguarding privacy and monetizing data. 

 is an airdrop program designed to reward users who interact with Aethir's blockchain technology. Aethir data generates badges based on community activities in which users participate, such as referring other users or participating in the integrated CARV modular data layer. People with more badges then climb a leaderboard based on their scores. Ultimately, tokens will be distributed based on leaderboard positions. Aethir has committed 630 million tokens to this airdrop, and users have until Aug 11, 2024 to claim their prizes. 

After a few years of building its technical foundation, Aethir's decentralized network is finally operational. Now that its data generates helpful graphics for gaming and AI services, Aethir is hoping to expand its ecosystem. In 2024, Aethir hopes to 

 by launching a token and onboarding more nodes and businesses. The network’s long-term plan also includes improved technological services, such as tailored order management operations and additional AI security protocols. 

The ATH token is designed to assist with transactions, incentivize users, develop the platform and regulate ecosystem governance. Its total supply of 

Aethir has only been on the market since early June 2024, but it's already experienced multiple changes. ATH’s price has soared as high as $0.1185 and gone as low as $0.03. This price movement has attracted some positive attention online, and many crypto enthusiasts are saying that 

. Market analysis from CryptoTicker suggests that ATH prices 

Looking to trade Aethir tokens? Bybit now offers the ATH/USDT Spot trading pair. To get started, you’ll first need to create a Bybit account, then fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

ATH's investment potential depends upon your priorities. The token is backed by a reliable project offering a highly in-demand service, so it has considerable intrinsic value. Furthermore, most pricing analysts believe Aethir is poised for mild but positive growth over the next several months, making ATH a good choice for investors who prioritize long-term growth and stability. 

However, if you're looking for dramatic price rises, ATH might not be for you. The token doesn't have a lot of market interest at the moment, so its trading volume remains relatively low. Moreover, every new crypto project comes with some volatility, and the Aethir ecosystem hasn't proven its staying power yet. Investors need to remain cautious and make sure they only invest funds they can afford to lose. As always, 

Ultimately, the Aethir ecosystem provides a fascinating look at how decentralized computing could change the internet. By harnessing idle GPU processing power, Aethir makes it easier for cloud gaming enterprises and AI services to operate. Although Aethir is still working on improving its modular data layer and needs to attract more gaming and AI clients, it’s off to a promising start.

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Aethir (ATH): Powering Next-Gen Gaming & AI With Decentralized Cloud Tech

Rollups-as-a-Service streamlines the deployment and management of L2 scaling solutions. Learn more about how it works in this article.

Scalability, high transaction costs and congestion are some of the significant challenges that blockchain networks face. Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS) aims to address these issues by streamlining deployment and management of 

. This article will explore what RaaS is, how it works, its benefits and drawbacks, some of the leading RaaS projects and the future of this transformative technology in the blockchain ecosystem.

Rollups-as-a-Service describes platforms that enable developers to deploy and operate tailored rollups without managing complex back-end infrastructure. These platforms provide developers with SDKs or dashboards for easy integration.

 streamlines the deployment of Layer 2 scaling solutions, known as 

, which enhance blockchain performance. RaaS platforms enable the creation of custom rollup chains that bundle numerous transactions into single batches, which are then processed off the main blockchain (

). This consolidation optimizes speed and reduces costs.

These platforms offer a comprehensive suite of development tools, including software development kits (SDKs) and templates, which streamline the initial setup process for projects onboarding with a RaaS provider. This ease of access allows 

 projects to quickly get up and running with the necessary infrastructure in place.

Developers can tailor their rollup chains according to specific project needs. This includes fine-tuning aspects, such security measures, network capacity, transaction fees and overall performance. Such flexibility ensures that each project can optimize its rollup chain to meet unique requirements and operational goals.

The modular nature of RaaS platforms allow for the smooth integration of various components, such as the data availability layer, sequencer and settlement layer. It also supports third-party tools, including 

, enhancing the overall functionality and user experience of the rollup solutions.

RaaS platforms also offer robust monitoring and maintenance services. They continuously monitor the performance and security of rollup solutions to ensure they operate optimally. This proactive approach helps in maintaining the integrity and reliability of rollup chains, providing peace of mind to the projects using these services.

As projects grow and evolve, RaaS platforms provide the necessary support to scale their rollup chains. This includes managing increased traffic and transaction volumes, as well as optimizing speed and efficiency. These platforms ensure that rollup solutions can handle growth seamlessly, allowing projects to focus on their core objectives without worrying about technical limitations. 

Rollups-as-a-Service platforms provide easy onboarding, extensive customization, modular integration, scalability and continuous monitoring, empowering projects to deploy robust and efficient rollup chains tailored to their specific needs. As with every other useful tool, they also have their drawbacks.

Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms are pivotal in scaling blockchain applications by providing Layer 2 solutions. Here’s a brief overview of some of the best RaaS projects. 

Alembic is a web3 development platform powered by 

 that enables users to build and operate games and applications. It provides a comprehensive stack of tools and services to create innovative projects in the web3 space without hassles. The project’s forte lies in its focus on ease of development and modularity, enabling the creation of bespoke blockchains with little overhead. 

 is a decentralized and elastic RaaS protocol that empowers developers to launch appchains (application-specific blockchains) It offers a unique approach, compared to traditional RaaS platforms, by providing a more decentralized and flexible solution. 

, is used as an economic bond alongside restaked assets to provide an economic stake that can be subject to penalties in cases of detected malicious behavior. ALT bestows holders with governance rights, allowing them to vote on decisions within the AltLayer ecosystem. AltLayer features an 

 that can handle surges in transaction processing requests, improving user experiences and minimizing fees.

 specializes in high-performance, customizable and application-specific Layer 2 blockchains. These Caldera chains offer high throughput, low latency and customizable features for optimizing DApp performance. Developers can choose any token as the native, fee-paying token of their chain, providing greater customization and alignment with their ecosystems. 

Caldera leverages data availability solutions such as 

 to slash transaction fees by up to 100 times as compared to traditional methods. 

 offers a managed service that helps developers easily and quickly deploy their applications to 

, a Layer 2 blockchain network that provides 

. The all-in-one platform is packed with powerful tools that allow anyone to deploy a rollup in minutes via a self-serve feature without needing any coding knowledge. 

Conduit primarily caters to enterprise clients, allowing them to rapidly deploy on the mainnet and focus on product development, rather than fiddling with security and 

 is a set of software components for building L2 blockchain ecosystems, developed by the 

 to power Optimism. It permits the creation of interconnected chains within a network called the 

OP Stack is known for its modular approach, allowing developers to build scalable and decentralized applications efficiently without compromising security. The OP Stack ecosystem is powered by OP, its native utility token. This token is used for transaction fees, governance, incentives and funding public goods within the Optimism network. 

 is a ZK-Rollup-as-a-Service platform that enables internet-scale DApps with a strong emphasis on privacy and security. It provides users with the tools to host and scale their own private decentralized network, catering to a wide range of applications — from fully on-chain games to transaction-intense 

 apps. Snapchain focuses on privacy, security and scalability, enabling developers to effortlessly expand their private decentralized networks, a crucial prerequisite for applications that demand high throughput and data privacy.

 is a blockchain technology company that specializes in the development of micro-rollups. These are designed to scale web3 applications by breaking up the rollup monolith into smaller, more manageable pieces that can be combined to serve a larger purpose. Stackr enables developers to build app-specific rollups using Web 2.0 programming languages like Python or JavaScript, making it easier for them to create scalable and decentralized applications.

 is a one-click rollup deployment framework that lets users design and manage scalable infrastructure with ease. It facilitates the rapid deployment of customizable rollups, streamlining the process for developers to compose, build, test, iterate and succeed in their projects. Vistara is also integrated with the NEAR ecosystem, facilitating multichain deployment of rollups and accelerating blockchain innovation. 

 token, VISTARA, serves various functions, such as governance, transaction fees and incentivizing participation within the network.

 is a blockchain deployment and management platform that specializes in RaaS. It provides a low-code, scalable and enterprise-grade infrastructure for ZK-rollups and OP Stack Rollups, catering to the needs of blockchain startups, enterprises and web3 developers. Zeeve’s platform enables users to build, customize and launch production-grade rollups, which are essential for scaling blockchain applications while maintaining security and decentralization. 

The platform’s support for both ZK-rollups and OP Stack Rollups offers flexibility and choice for developers, based on their specific application requirements.

Rollups-as-a-Service is poised to become a transformative force in the blockchain ecosystem. As the demand for scalable and efficient blockchain solutions grows, RaaS is expected to play a pivotal role. Following are some of the key aspects that will shape the future of RaaS.

Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms are revolutionizing blockchain scalability by providing customizable, managed rollup solutions. They offer significant transaction throughput and cost reductions, encouraging innovation and simplifying DApp development. Despite potential centralization risks and initial liquidity challenges, RaaS is integral to the future of efficient and scalable blockchain ecosystems. 

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Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS): A Gateway to Scalable Blockchain Solutions

XDC Network (XDC) revolutionizes trade finance with a secure, hybrid blockchain, enabling low-cost, fast cross-border payments, tokenization, and scalable solutions for businesses.

With the ever-growing volume of transactions and activity in the global trade finance industry, businesses are looking for ways to settle their cross-border payments as efficiently, affordably and securely as possible. This is, however, often more a wish than a reality. What usually happens on the ground in trade finance is vastly different, as credit risk, high transaction costs, delays in processing payments and documentation, lack of transparency and numerous other issues continue to hinder more active trade.

XDC Network (XDC) is a long-established hybrid blockchain platform that aims to resolve these issues by providing a secure, transparent, private and efficient environment to facilitate trade finance operations. Probably the largest project in the blockchain industry dedicated specifically to trade finance and international trade use cases, XDC Network uses a combination of public and private blockchain features to act as the optimal medium for asset tokenization and fast, low-cost and secure cross-border payments.

 blockchain that combines public and private access features to offer asecure, scalable and low-cost environment for trade finance payments and asset tokenization. 

 (DPoS) block validation method, allowing it to offer gas fees that are small fractions of a cent (around $0.0001) and a processing capacity of more than 2,000 

 (TPS). As a low-cost and highly scalable medium for crypto payments, XDC Network aims to provide an efficient platform for trade finance operations and tokenization of 

While there’s no shortage of highly scalable and low-cost blockchain networks, many are either public platforms on which transactional privacy is hard to maintain, or private environments that lack transparency. XDC Network takes a different approach by acting as a hybrid environment; while the main XDC chain is a public network, businesses have the option to launch their subnets and customize the level of access to specific data and operations. The ability to act as a transparent and verifiable public ledger — combined with the functionality to protect sensitive financial data — makes XDC a key enabler for trade finance transactions.

XDC Network also features a high degree of interoperability with external platforms, both blockchain-based and those outside of the 

 world. The platform is compatible with the 

 (EVM), making cross-chain communications with other EVM chains seamless for users and developers. 

Importantly, XDC has integrated support for 

, a widely adopted messaging standard used by financial institutions to exchange data. The integration of ISO 20022 is aimed at optimizing the efficiency and compatibility of XDC transactions with Web 2.0 entities in the trade finance industry.

Some key use cases for XDC Network include supply chain management solutions, efficient payments between parties in the trade finance sector, applications utilizing high-volume micropayments, tokenization of physical and digital assets and more. In general, any application or business that requires fast, efficient, minimal cost and secure payments could benefit from using the XDC platform.

The XDC Network project was originally conceived and launched in 2017 in Singapore under the name XinFin by Atul Khekade, Ritesh Kakkad. It's supported by the nonprofit XDC Foundation, launched in 2021. XDC Network's mainnet was introduced in mid-2019.

Besides its ultra-low transaction costs and high processing capacity, probably the biggest advantage of XDC Network for trade finance operations is its hybrid nature. While public networks are great for transparency, they’re often ill-suited for financial transactions between two corporate parties. XDC Network acts as a public network, but allows organizations to control the level of access to data via private subnets.

A private subnet’s privacy and access features can be customized per the agreed terms between transacting parties, or per the requirements of the organization operating the subnet. For instance, a common scenario in trade finance is the need to demonstrate enough financial reserves to pay for goods and services before entering into a contractual agreement. Using a public access mode, a transacting business can demonstrate to the counterparty its financial reserves and creditworthiness. After concluding the agreement and receiving the goods, it can process the actual payment via private mode. 

During the whole process, all the verifications and transactions occur via the XDC Network’s platform without the need for lengthy bureaucratic procedures, such as obtaining a letter of credit from a bank and setting up a dedicated trade finance account.

XDC Network uses a customized variation of the DPoS block validation method. XinFin Delegated Proof of Stake (XDPoS) can process more than 2,000 TPS by concentrating block validation activity in the hands of a few 

. At the first stage of the validation process, a small set of validators is chosen via voting to create blocks of transactions. These elected validators collate and sign the blocks, which are then fully endorsed by a broader set of validators as adhering to the blockchain's consensus standards.

Block validators, also known as Masternodes, need to lock a collateral amount of 10 million XDC (around $270,000 as of Oct 31, 2024) to participate in the validation process. A fixed reward is generated for the completion of the validation of each block, which is shared among Masternodes, distributed proportionally according to their performance and uptime. There are currently 108 Masternodes on the XDC blockchain, with another 178 registered as standby Masternodes, ready to step in if a current validator drops out.

Users who would like to participate in securing the network's operations but can't afford the 10 million XDC collateral can still earn a share of block validation rewards by delegating their funds to a Masternode.

 has undergone significant changes in the years since its launch. It was first based on 

 (PoW), moving later on to the more efficient and environmentally friendly 

 (PoS), and then upgrading to the XDPoS model described above. In October 2024, the project launched version 2.0 of its mainnet, which features the next iteration of the block validation model — XDPoS 2.0.

The upgrade to XDPoS 2.0 has further improved XDC Network’s scalability and security, providing better validator incentives to Masternodes. While these improvements were accompanied by gas fee increases of up to 50 times, the actual fees on the blockchain remain minuscule, around $0.0001 on average, as they've increased from an even tinier base.

We noted above that XDC allows businesses to spin off private subnets that can be customized to the requirements of each client and use case. The XDC protocol may also be used to launch gasless subnets, a valuable feature for applications that aim to provide a smooth user experience in areas such as gaming, the Internet of Things (IoT), micropayments and more. A gasless XDC subnet operates as a 

 solution connected to the main XDC chain, and is optimized for specific use cases, such as 

, allowing users to transact without holding any cryptocurrency.

, XDC has developed different token standards for specific use cases, similar to the system of standards used on 

XRC20 is the blockchain's standard for fungible tokens, with a functionality similar to that of Ethereum's 

. XRC20 tokens are interoperable, and can be used within the blockchain's 

 (DApps). They’re ideal for powering payments flowing between parties in trade finance.

 (NFTs). Unlike XRC20 tokens, each XRC721 token is unique and has its ownership and intellectual property (IP) metadata attached to it. Besides creating standard NFTs, these tokens are also useful for tokenizing unique RWAs, such as physical and digital artwork, real estate, unique brand assets and luxury goods items.

XRC404 is the blockchain's standard token. It combines the features of fungible and non-fungible tokens. Using this standard, developers can program complex functionality to accommodate both fungibility and uniqueness attributes as required. Some use cases for XRC404 include 

 and complex financial instruments that require unique identification, but may still exist in multiple quantities.

Originally, the XDC project — then called XinFin — launched its native cryptocurrency, XDCE, on the Ethereum blockchain in early 2018. With the launch of the XinFin mainnet in mid-2019, the XDC token native to the blockchain was also introduced. Throughout 2020 and early 2021, XDCE could be migrated to XDC at a ratio of 1:1. At the end of March 2021, XDCE's circulation was terminated and the token's contract on Ethereum was closed, with XDC remaining the platform's sole native cryptocurrency.

XDC tokens may be used for gas fee payments, 

/stake delegation and validator reward payouts, as well as

. XDC Network Masternodes, all of whom need to stake 10 million XDC on the network, can participate in the voting process to determine the direction of the platform's ecosystem development and its operational rules. The wider XDC community indirectly participates in these governance processes via stake delegation.

XDC has a total supply of nearly 38 billion, with no maximum cap specified.

You can store and use XDC tokens with one of the many wallet apps supported by the platform, including XDC Web Wallet, XDC Pay, Guarda, MathWallet, MyEtherWallet and more. The industry's two leading hardware wallets, Trezor and Ledger, are also supported, and the Ledger Nano S Plus model can be connected to the XDC Web Wallet.

For an added level of enterprise-grade security, XDC also supports three 

 (a type of wallet that requires multiple signatures for transaction approval).

The XDC token is available on Bybit as a Spot swap pair (

. If you don't have an account on Bybit, you can easily 

 to take advantage of trading opportunities across our Spot and Derivatives markets.

As of Nov 1, 2024, the XDC token is trading at $0.02719, which is 86% lower than its ATH of $0.1928 on Aug 21, 2021, and over 6,700% higher than its ATL of $0.0003953 on Jul 22, 2019.

Long-term price forecasts for XDC are bullish. DigitalCoinPrice 

 of $0.0706 in 2025 and $0.20 in 2030, while PricePrediction 

 to trade at $0.0547 in 2025 and $0.3715 in 2030.

Some investors are making extremely bullish assumptions regarding the token, hoping it might reach $1 or even as high as $100. While $1 isn’t totally out of the question from a long-term perspective, it's still quite unlikely within the next five years. Most major price prediction portals or analysts don’t see XDC coming close to the $1 mark within the next few years. However, one prediction portal, PricePrediction, anticipates the token to cross $1 by around 2033.

As for the $100 level, it's highly doubtful unless some major development leads to a mammoth XDC price pump.

XDC Network is the trade finance industry's flagship project, leveraging blockchain technology for the sector. While other web3 solutions aimed at trade finance might exist, the leadership in this niche is firmly in the hands of XDC. 

As the volume and activity of international trade increases, businesses in this sphere will find it difficult to ignore the numerous benefits of this platform. All of its features — ultrafast and low-cost payments, transparent creditworthiness verifications directly on the blockchain, compatibility with the ISO 20022 financial messaging standard, stellar scalability and the ability to spin off your own private chain — position the platform as an ideal solution for trade finance organizations seeking efficiency and security.

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XDC Network (XDC): Transforming Trade Finance Through Tokenization

Kontos (KOS) is an innovative Layer 2 omnichain platform that simplifies secure, seamless transactions across multiple blockchains with a unified account experience.

Blockchain networks boast significant security and decentralization benefits, but they aren't particularly known for the efficiency of their cross-chain interoperability. Inconsistent account formats, gas fees denominated in different assets, difficulties in bridging funds and incompatible wallets are all realities of life for 

 users who dare to delve into cross-chain transactions. 

While a plethora of cross-chain bridges and other solutions have emerged on the market in recent years, the majority can’t provide the unified 

 experience that would truly make cross-chain operations feel as seamless as performing them on a single network.

Concerns over security of interchain communications exist as well, with users often unfamiliar with wallets and security standards on many chains, particularly less recognized ones.

 omnichain project that aims to provide that coveted single-platform experience whereby users deal with multiple blockchains through the use of account, asset, chain and transaction abstractions. Using 

 (ZK) technology to enhance the security of its operations, Kontos provides a user-friendly solution that lets you easily conduct your crypto transactions across various blockchains, without the complexities of managing multiple 

 (KOS) is a Layer 2 omnichain account abstraction platform that lets users seamlessly transact and manage their crypto funds across multiple blockchains from the same unified abstracted account. 

A Kontos account allows you to move funds, swap tokens and conduct other operations managing your cross-chain assets as if they were all based on the same network. The abstracted account lets you avoid creating multiple 

 and private keys on each blockchain you may utilize.

Powered by ZK technology, Kontos also provides a highly secure environment to protect you from vulnerabilities that may arise during cross-chain communications, or when using blockchains with less-than-optimal security setups. 

 (AI) features as well, with its Kontos AI Agent, a bot that lets you explore multiple blockchain environments and trade and manage your account using intent-based natural language prompts (see 

EVM)–compatible blockchains into its account abstraction setup. These include major 

 EVM networks, such as Ethereum (ETH), BNB Chain (BNB), Avalanche (AVAX), Polygon (MATIC), Optimism (OP) and Arbitrum (ARB), as well as several smaller EVM-compatible platforms, such as Linea, Blast (BLAST) and Mantle (MNT). Users can deposit assets from supported networks into their Kontos accounts using the 

 bridging solution. As of October 2024, Kontos supports only EVM-compatible networks, but has plans to integrate non-EVM chains as well.

The Kontos platform was developed and is supported by the blockchain development outfit Zecrey Labs, whose alpha mainnet operations were launched in June 2023. In early 2024, the project debuted its web application that allows users to easily register an omnichain abstracted account, which then allows them to transact on the multiple networks supported by its platform.

 (ATOM) blockchain’s technology. It uses abstraction at all the fundamental levels — account, chain, asset and action/transaction — to allow users access to the underlying EVM-compatible chains from a unified interface, without the need to carry out separate transactions or maintain separate accounts.

A key feature of Kontos that supports cross-chain communications is the 

, a network component that receives and processes cross-chain transaction requests from users. The Broker scouts the entire ecosystem of chains serviced by Kontos to find the most suitable deals and execution pathways for the specified user request. To free users from the need to handle cross-chain operations themselves, the Broker pre-purchases assets and pre-pays gas fees on behalf of users.

Using the Broker greatly simplifies cross-chain activities and creates ways to conduct sophisticated, multichain operations easily. For instance, if you hold 1 ETH on Ethereum and 15 BNB on BNB Chain, and would like to combine these funds to buy as much AVAX on the Avalanche chain as your funds will fetch, the Broker — working in the background of your Kontos account — will handle the entire process across all three chains. Imagine having to do the same directly, connecting to all three chains, initiating transactions with pre-paid gas fees on each network! These scenarios demonstrate how Kontos's account abstraction, powered by its Broker, can be a great time and money saver.

To facilitate user-friendly cross-chain operations via its platform, Kontos has launched AI-powered bots for Discord and Telegram. We mentioned above the integration of the Kontos AI Agent into the platform's architecture. Kontos has implemented this technology on Discord and Telegram to support a wide variety of user operations, from intent-based asset trade to account recovery and more. General account management operations are 

. However, if you conduct crypto swaps and cross-chain transfers via the bots, there are gas fees to be paid.

One of Kontos bots' most innovative and useful features is their ability to facilitate intent-based transfers and crypto trade. Intent-based transactions allow you to pre-specify your intended goal in initiating the transaction, e.g., "

", and provide criteria that must be met so that your request is executed, such as "

as long as the total transaction fees, including gas fees, are no more than $10.

The bot's job is to find the optimal execution route and carry out the transaction when suitable, and only if your conditions are met.

 provides access to all the features offered by the platform as an alternative to using social media bots. Users who prefer a desktop environment might prefer to use the app rather than the Discord or Telegram bots. The app is also accessible via the bots; you’ll need to provide the 

 command through either bot to launch the web app.

Using the Kontos Web App, you can transfer funds from other blockchains to your account, conduct token swaps via the over-the-counter (OTC) option and carry out core account management operations.

The Kontos Wallet allows you to comprehensively manage your account and transactions on Kontos’s platform. It's completely decentralized and noncustodial. Powered by ZK technology, the wallet offers a high degree of security, always an important factor when interacting with multiple blockchain environments.

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