THE PROTOCOL: Crypto Points: Off-Chain Derivatives That Everyone is Talking About

Debating also the integration of Layer 2 functions on Ethereum's main chain, the unexplored territory of Blockchains’ identity and personal data storage; and Vitalik's deeply technical essay. This episode is sponsored by the Stellar Community Fund Follow the show here for more. In this installment of "The Protocol," hosts Brad Keoun, the founding editor of The Protocol Newsletter, and tech journalists Sam Kessler and Margaux Nijkerk, explore the following stories: Polygon and Celestia Celestia's "data availability" solution – pitched as a cheaper alternative to storing data on Ethereum – will become an option for builders who are using Polygon’s customizable software stack to spin up new layer-2 networks. CRYPTO POINTS Points rely on highly performant off-chain database systems called Servers to store and verify individual point balances. Sam Altman and WorldCoin World ID has added integrations with Shopify, Minecraft, and Reddit alongside a slew of developer-focused updates that could expand the OpenAI founder's blockchain-based "proof-of-personhood" service to more users. Cronos -Crypto.com Partner The new "Cronos zkEVM chain" is launching initially as a test network, based on Matter Labs’ software tools, which can be used to spin up new layer 2 and layer 3 “hyperchains” atop Ethereum. PROTOCOL VILLAGE SEGMENT - An Essay by Vitalik Ethereum's Buterin Floats Prospect of Taking Some Layer-2 Functions Back on Main Chain Vitalik Buterin, a member of the Ethereum Foundation's executive board, once pushed "layer-2" networks as a way to provide faster and cheaper transactions. Now he's got ideas for "enshrining" some of those functions on the main chain. EPISODE LINKS | Polygon to Offer Data Solution Celestia as Option for New Layer-2 Developers Celestia, Blockchain Data Solution, Sees TIA Token Surge as Polygon Plan Announced https://x.com/jonwu_/status/1735059813087015384?s=20 https://x.com/sassal0x/status/1734787782940168569?s=20 https://x.com/CoinDesk/status/1732889600425644235?s=20 https://x.com/gabrielhaines/status/1734911303980917048?s=20 https://twitter.com/puntium/status/1734722454566887843 Sam's Worldcoin Cronos, Partner of Crypto.com, to Start Layer 2 Network With Matter Labs Sign Up for THE PROTOCOL NEWSLETTER From Our Sponsor: The Stellar Community Fund (SCF) is an open-application awards program that draws on community input to support developers and startups building on Stellar and Soroban. Accelerate your web3 project today. Apply for Funding at communityfund.stellar.org - The Protocol has been produced and edited by senior producer Michele Musso and our executive producer is Jared Schwartz. Our theme song is “Take Me Back” by Strength To Last. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.