The largest Ethereum conference, EthCC, has concluded in Brussels, Belgium, bringing together leaders and visionaries from the crypto industry. The DWF Ventures team had the opportunity to engage with some of the industry's top minds. Below are the key narratives we explored at the event:
- Preconfirmations & MEV.
- Chain abstraction.
- Restaking.
- AI.
- NFT and consumer chains.
In this article, we’ll provide the key aspects and promising projects of these niches.
Side Events
With nearly 400 side events held throughout the week, EthCC has established itself as one of the biggest crypto conferences of the year. Various ecosystems, projects, venture capitalists (VCs), market makers, and institutions invested heavily in sponsoring events and sending their teams to Brussels. For instance, our company hosted the DWF Labs Haus event.
VC Consensus
Participants from crypto venture capital funds noted a lack of fresh, innovative narratives in the crypto market in recent months, with many projects either being repetitive or rebranded versions of older ideas. Noteworthy themes include the shift from Security Token Offerings (STO) to Real-World Assets (RWA) and from the Internet of Things (IoT) to Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN).
Preconfirmations and MEV
Ethereum developers are exploring preconfirmation, a concept aimed at improving user experience and addressing the issues of Maximal Extractable Value (MEV).
Preconfirmations allow users to receive a “promise” from a block proposer that their transaction will be included in an upcoming block, improving predictability and lowering latency. However, this approach adds complexity and trust requirements, as proposers must post collateral to guarantee their promise.
Chain Abstraction
Chain abstraction is a rising trend that simplifies blockchain interactions by enabling users to manage multiple blockchains through a single interface. This eliminates the need for separate wallets, gas fees, or network switching, allowing for seamless cross-chain liquidity and dapp interaction.
This tech opens up the possibility of more composable applications, e.g., gas and asset abstraction proposed in NEAR Protocol. It also brings opportunities for increased liquidity, as crypto assets can move freely between various blockchains.
Liquid Restaking
Liquid restaking is growing in popularity, allowing users to stake native tokens like Ethereum, receive liquid staking tokens (LSTs), and further stake these tokens in DeFi applications, thus maximizing staking returns.
Although the restaking narrative has slowed compared to previous events, such as Devconnect and EthDenver, it's noteworthy that Symbiotic is making strides since its June 2024 launch, challenging EigenLayer, Ethereum’s leading restaking protocol.
AI Crypto
AI remains a hot topic, with many events at EthCC focusing on its intersection with crypto. While AI is becoming a buzzword, projects like 0G Labs and Ora Protocol are tackling real market problems with meaningful solutions.
NFT and Consumer Chain
Leading NFT projects are increasingly venturing into the infrastructure space. The Web3 brand Pudgy Penguins attracted significant attention with its announcement of an L2 chain, while Azuki, which aims at creating a “decentralized anime brand,” unveiled its L3 chain on Arbitrum. These initiatives highlight the merging of NFT consumer influence with blockchain infrastructure development.
What’s Next?
We will continue attending crypto conferences throughout the year, seeking new investment opportunities and building connections with Web3 developers. Reach out to us if you are interested in collaborating with DWF Ventures.
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