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The Protocol
Every Wednesday
Exploring the tech behind crypto one block at a time.
The Protocol: Blockchains Keep Launching, From Sei to Shibarium
The week in blockchain tech: Two much-hyped networks debut, though the launches weren't quite as smooth as organizers might have hoped. ALSO: What is restaking? (Answer: it's the blockchain security trend you didn't know you needed to know about.)

The Protocol: Coinbase Launches Own Blockchain as Sleuths Scour PayPal's Stablecoin Software
We're covering Coinbase's launch of "Base," a layer-2 network atop Ethereum, along with the crypto community's reaction to PayPal's new stablecoin and the brouhaha over Matter Labs' use of Polygon-crafted open-source software.

Ledger Recover Fiasco Exposes Gap Between Blockchain Ideals and Technical Reality
After a video went viral of what appears to be a hardware wallet getting smashed with a hammer and then blow-torched into a charred mass, Ledger (and all of the crypto industry) got a searing reminder on the importance of managing expectations.

Ethereum Briefly Stopped Finalizing Transactions. What Happened?
The loss in finality meant that blocks could have been tampered with, and while it isn’t supposed to affect end-user experiences, it did lead to some inconveniences for some applications.

Urbit, a Network Older and Weirder Than Bitcoin, Finally Turns Toward Growth
The peer-to-peer network started in 2002 says it's taking on "MEGACORP," much in the same vein as many blockchain networks. A bit more fun are the "secret code names" that users are assigned.

Blockstream Developer Neigut Expects ‘Cambrian Explosion’ of Bitcoin Layer 2 Protocols
Bitcoin already has one of the most diverse layer 2 ecosystems of any network, but coming technology upgrades could lead to an acceleration in the blockchain's development, according to Blockstream's Lisa Neigut.

How the Hunt for Yet-to-Exist Tokens Is Shaping Ethereum’s Layer 2 Landscape
Token airdrops – and the prospect of them – have become the default customer acquisition strategy for Ethereum's layer 2 scaling projects. But is this strategy sustainable?

CoinDesk Winds Down Ethereum Validator ‘Zelda,’ and We Now Wait to Get Money Back
Following last week's milestone Shanghai upgrade, we moved to wind down CoinDesk's Ethereum validator project, but it could be a week before the 32 ETH we staked (about $67,000 worth) hits our wallet. C. Spencer Beggs, our director of engineering, breaks down the technical steps he's taken.

Ethereum's Shanghai Upgrade on Deck; Developers, Traders Aflutter With Anticipation
Developers and crypto market analysts are getting in their final words before staked ETH withdrawals are activated.

CoinDesk’s Ethereum Validator Enters Final Weeks, Sitting on More Than $30K of Gains
To better chronicle the Ethereum blockchain's transition to a proof-of-stake network, CoinDesk started its own validator. We plunked down the 32 ETH (roughly $15K at the time) and laid the technical groundwork. With staking withdrawals due to start April 12, we take stock of the project.
