Epic Web3 – events in AI and Web3 industries

How to design a decentralized company and why it’s a must in Web3 — insight from Kevin Liu, co-founder of Metis and ZKM:

“If you hope to start a blockchain project — decentralization is one of the cornerstones for you to operate and to sustain. That should be the vision of every project.

When we design the entire infrastructure, we don't just want that large token holders to take control and vote in their favor. We really hope all the contributors can have their say.

If you're a general community member, you can have some ways to propose. But whether the proposal is valid or not, is feasible or not, it will be decided by infrastructure contributors in the ecosystem.

In the future, every Web3 project should be decentralized. Otherwise, you can go to Web2. Welcome to Web3”


✨Want to hear more of Kevin's insights? Click here to check out our podcast.

🇹🇷 Get ready for the Epic ETH Infra Day @Devconnect! A one-day event for Ethereum builders and enthusiasts.

❤️‍🔥Incredible lineup with 16(!) speakers:
Bobbin Threadbare, Founder @ Polygon
Alex Gluchowski, Co-founder @ zkSync
Anton Bukov, Founder @ 1inch
Brecht Devos, Co-founder @ Taiko
Dmitry Zhelezov, Сo-founder @ Subsquid
Vince Yang, Co-founder @ zkLink
Nebojsa Urosevic, Co-founder & SVP of R&D @ Tenderly
Bogdan Habic, CTO @ Tenderly
Liron Hayman, Head of BD @ StarkWare
Jan Gorzny Head of L2 Scaling @ Quantstamp
Bowen Wang, Director of Protocol @ NEAR
Dominik Schmid, Product Manager @ Polygon
Dave Weisiger, Head of DevRel @ Taiko
Daria Agad, Devrel @ Subsquid
Firat Sertgoz, Engineering Manager @ Near
Harry Roberts, Technical Product Manager @ Oasis Network

✨The event is free, but seats are limited. Secure yours now by clicking here!

🗓Nov 15, Istanbul

4 things to consider before choosing or building Layer2 for your project:

1️⃣ Project's focus: Is it DeFi, NFTs, Web3 or something else?

2️⃣ Scalability: Annual market growth, tech capacity, and so on.

3️⃣ Business model: Transaction and development costs, onboarding, market size, etc.

4️⃣Techonlogy stack: are you going to use Solidity, Cairo, Rust or Move?

🧞Btw, what’s your favorite L2?🧞

🧞Catch Dominik Schmid, Product Manager Polygon, with topic “Combining private and public state to solve some of Ethereum's problems" at ETH Infra Day Devconnect!

💥Dominik Schmid — mathematician, philosopher, trying to scale Ethereum since 2017.

✨Key takeaway — Polygon Miden demonstrates how combining private and public L2 states enables groundbreaking apps with privacy, compliance, speed, and MEV protection. User-generated zk proofs reshape Layer2 app design, while retaining base layer security.

🔴See you on ETH Infra Day in Istanbul. Secure your spot for free:
https://rb.gy/4734h


🗓Nov 15, Istanbul, @Devconnect

🧞Gm everyone!

💥Epic Web3 just launched it's podcast — join us as we bring in the founders of the leading Web3 products and protocols to dive deep into industry topics that often fly under the radar.

🌝Some of the topics:
How to acquire real users and not just airdrop hunters? How to raise funds in a bear market? What's the best way to deal with the ups and downs of crypto?

🧠Our first guest is Kevin Liu — co-founder of Metis and CEO at ZKM. Kevin shares his insights on the future of L2 and finding the ideal investor for your company.

🔴Click here to listen and get useful advice:

📍Spotify
📍Youtube
📍Apple Podcasts

🔥We’re happy to announce our first speaker at the ETH Infra Day in Istanbul!🔥

Bogdan Habic, CTO at Tenderly will be doing a presentation on "Ditch Public Testnets Forever: Test Privately on Mainnet Data in Minutes"!

Here’s what you should know about Tenderly:

🤖Tenderly is full stack infrastructure for Web3 developers. Build, test, debug and run reliable dapps🤖

Join us on ETH Infra Day in Istanbul. Secure your spot for free:

🗓Nov 15, Istanbul
https://bit.ly/3ZUJGEf

Ethereum Layer 1 vs Layer 2: advantages and disadvantages

🧞Let’s take a deep dive into the difference between Ethereum’s Layer 1 and Layer 2 and discuss its strengths and weaknesses!

⚪️Layer 1⚪️

🟢Pros:
🔒Security: Ethereum Layer 1 boasts some serious security reputation thanks to its rock-solid proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.

💠Decentralization: since Ethereum has thousands of nodes participating in the network, it’s resistant to censorship and control by a single entity.

🌎Interoperability: Ethereum is widely adopted, with many blockchain projects and tokens built on it or made to work with it. This makes Ethereum more connected and compatible with the larger blockchain ecosystem.

🟥Cons:

↗️Scalability issues: the problems caused by Ethereum's design, like high fees and slow transactions when it's busy, happen because of its design and how it works.

💸High gas fees: gas fees on Ethereum can be expensive as hell during peak usage, making it less accessible for small transactions and projects.

👁Privacy: in Layer 1, every transaction isn't just recorded on the ledger; it's also open for the entire world to see.

⚪️Layer 2⚪️

🟢Pros:
🧧Lower fees: since transaction are done in Layer 2, Ethereum becomes much more affordable for users with lower gas fees.

📈Scalability: Layer 2 moves transactions away from the main chain, allowing for faster and more efficient processing of transactions and smart contracts.

🚤Fast confirmation times: Layer 2 transactions confirm almost instantly, enabling real-time interactions for users.

🟥Cons:

🗝Security considerations: while Layer 2 builds on the security of Layer 1, it's important to remember that vulnerabilities in Layer 2 setups can create risks.

💥Complexity: implementing and using Layer 2 solutions can be technically complex, and require users and developers to learn new concepts and interfaces.

🏃Exit and withdrawal challenges: some Layer 2 solutions might have restrictions or delays when users want to transfer their assets back to Layer 1.

🇹🇷 Get ready for the Epic ETH Infra Day in Istanbul!

🧞​One-day technical event for builders dedicated to Ethereum Infrastructure. Let's supercharge your infrastructure like never before! 💥🚀

⏳Agenda: keynotes, panels, and speed-networking sessions!

🔴Secure your spot here:
https://bit.ly/46mwnyY

🗓Nov 15, Istanbul

What's Wrong with Traditional Block Explorers and How to Fix It 🚀

Giacomo Barbieri — Operations Lead @ Avascan recently spotlighted the evolving challenges and potential remedies for block explorers at the Epic ETH Infra Day. Here's a concise breakdown of his insights:

🛠️ Issues with Traditional Block Explorers:

As the blockchain ecosystem grows more interconnected, traditional block explorers remain fixated on singular chains, missing out on the broader picture. Users are left clamoring for a unified platform to monitor cross-chain activities, yet are often met with unsatisfactory tools. This lack of integration necessitates tedious network switching, muddling the user experience.

💡 Proposed Solutions:

🔹 Universal Block Explorer: A comprehensive interface that amalgamates data from blockchains with any kind of virtual machine, offering a holistic view.
🔹 Unified Data Presentation: Ensure diverse blockchain data is presented in a cohesive and harmonious manner.
🔹 Ecosystem Explorers: Innovative tools designed to glean insights from entire blockchain ecosystems without the need for multiple sources.
🔹 Routescan, built by the Avascan team, is the first world unified, multi-ecosystem EVM block explorer platform that aims to solve the problem.

📽️ For a deeper dive and a broader spectrum of solutions, watch the full session here.

🚀 ETH Data: How to Harvest Insights

Navigating Ethereum data can be tricky. Dealing with hexadecimal, traversing trie structures and repeatedly querying blockchain data can be a cumbersome and arduous process.

At the Epic ETH Infra Day in Seoul, Ben Thalman from Figment.io shared key insights and solutions for Ethereum data challenges.

🖥️ Ethereum base layer offers lots of useful data that can be used to analyze validator performance, customer reporting and create staking indices. This data needs to be indexed – extracted, transformed and saved in a database. Figment’s staking app is a prime example of effective data use.

⚙️ Dapps built on Ethereum also offer useful data. Token prices can be easily extracted with minimal transformation effort. These can be used to monitor potential arbitrage opportunities. There are many open sources and paid services to help get started here, such as “EatTheBlocks”.

🤔 There are still plenty of open questions in Ethereum that could be answered with the right data:

🔹 Which relay is best? Since The Merge validators can connect to various relays using MEV-Boost, but sorting out which relay provides the highest rewards is not a trivial exercise.
🔹 Account Abstraction (e.g., ERC4377) potentially provides lots of new data sets related to intent mempools. The more prominent projects building in this space will likely create valuable, highly-demanded data in the future.
🔹 Snapshot of the Ethereum mempool can also be very useful.

➡️ Dive deeper into challenges and uncover more solutions – watch Ben’s full session ⬅️

🤔 How to Optimize Ethereum Dapps with Hybrid Rollups

Facing high gas fees, slow transactions, and network congestion on Ethereum?

Soumyaranjan Ram, Co-Lead Developer Relations Engineer at Metis and ZKM shared a solution during our ETH Infra Day in Seoul:

Hybrid Rollups are designed to counter these challenges. By merging the scalability of Optimistic Rollups with Zero-Knowledge Rollups' finality, we can supercharge Ethereum dapps for unmatched speed and efficiency.

📌 Advantages for Dapp Development:

🛠️ EVM Compatibility: Seamlessly integrate within the Ethereum framework.
⏰ Swift Transaction Finality: Say goodbye to the week-long wait; think 4 hours instead.
🛡️ Bolstered Security: Leverage validity proofs and trustless cryptographic tools to safeguard your transactions.
🚀 Maximized Throughput & Capital Efficiency: Minimize data redundancy, accelerate transactions, and decongest the Ethereum network.
🌐 Genuine Decentralization: Facilitate parallel processing with a fortified security net, ensuring resistance to censorship and promoting decentralization.

➡️ For a more granular understanding – dive deep with Soumyaranjan Ram's detailed talk ⬅️

🪙 Ethereum isn’t perfect

Liquidity fragmentation still stands as a major challenge and the overall user experience for navigating a multi-chain landscape isn’t as smooth as it should be.


Enter zk.Link which harnesses the power of zk-SNARKs; they've crafted a secure execution layer that seamlessly aggregates liquidity from the top roll-ups and blockchains. zk.Link infrastructure eradicates the limitations imposed by liquidity silos, serving as a critical milestone in introducing a more accessible DeFi ecosystem.

zk.Link's Co-Founder, Vince Yang, took the spotlight on Epic ETH Infra Day stage and provided insights into:

1️⃣ zk.Link's tools for app builders, bypassing blockchain development hurdles.
2️⃣ A diverse range of supported applications, from AMMs to insurance, with instant secure settlements.
3️⃣ zkLink’s unique protocol design featuring recursive zero-knowledge proofs.
4️⃣ Integrations with all of the top networks.
5️⃣ zkLink's evolution towards a Layer 3 model for even more efficient transactions.


➡️ For a comprehensive deep dive, watch the full session here ⬅️

🗣️ In the expansive world of blockchains, each with its unique strengths and ecosystems, a complex challenge arises: How can they seamlessly communicate?

In a recent talk, Ben Weinberg, DevRel @ Axelar, addressed this challenge, shedding light on its intricacies and Axelar's proposed solutions:

👐 A Blockchain for Blockchains: Axelar is itself a blockchain that connects blockchains. It leverages its validator set to facilitate secure, tamper-proof general messages and asset transfers across blockchains.

⛽ Gas Service: This service simplifies the gas payment process for users. Rather than needing to hold multiple tokens to pay for an interchain transaction, users only need to pay in the token of the source chain and the gas service handles the rest.

🔑 Dynamic Gateway Contract: The entry point to interchain transactions. Developers can interact with the Gateway contract to pass encoded messages across blockchains. It is controlled by the Axelar validators that together hold the key for the contract.

🚀 Streamlined Cross-Chain Transactions: Axelar's ecosystem offers end-to-end transactional flows between source and destination chains, empowering developers with flexibility and custom-encoded message capabilities.

🛠️ Axelarscan Block Explorer: An intuitive tool for dissecting and visualizing every step of an inter-chain transaction, providing valuable insights for monitoring transaction details.

🖥️ For those who want to dive deeper into this topic, you can watch Ben's full talk!

⚖️ Balancing Security VS Performance in Rollups

There's a consistent push and pull between security and performance. Too much of one can sometimes compromise the other. At a recent panel on “Rollups and Beyond”, industry experts Marco Cora (Matter Labs), Sandy Peng (Scroll), Vincent Yang (zkLink), David Weisiger (Taiko), Kevin Liu (ZKM) and Francesco Andreolí (Consensys) tackled this challenge head-on, offering some insights:

1️⃣ Customizable Security with Multi-Group Systems:
Users' security needs are diverse, making a universal solution redundant. Multi-group systems address this by allowing customization. For example, a financial dApp could prioritize tight security, accepting longer confirmation times, whereas a gaming platform might emphasize speed, even if it means slightly relaxed security.

2️⃣ Exploiting Layer 2's Potential:
Layer 2 adoption often extends existing use cases from Layer 1 rather than creating entirely new ones. Layer 2 solutions are ideal for applications that demand low transaction costs and high throughput. Examples include DeFi applications and gaming platforms. Developers should focus on optimizing these existing use cases to harness the full potential of Layer 2 technology.

3️⃣ Security vs. Scalability:
Striking a balance between security and scalability is challenging. One approach is to implement multi-layer systems that provide both security and speed. For instance, combining optimistic rollups with additional security measures can maintain high levels of security while achieving scalability. Users can choose the level of security that aligns with their risk tolerance.

🖥️ Catch the entire discussion to explore L2 nuances, understand ZK technology advancements, and grasp the rollups challenges and opportunities!

🔎 Strategies and Insights from L2 Leaders

At Epic ETH Infra day in Seoul, we had the privilege of hosting two visionary leaders in the blockchain space:

🎤 Ed Felten - Co-Founder @ Offchain Labs
🎤 Nicolas Liochon - Head of Linea @ ConsenSys

This insightful discussion was moderated by Francesco Andreolí - DevRel @ ConsenSys, and it covered a wide range of key topics in the world of blockchain and Layer Two solutions:

🔹 Common misconceptions about Layer Two and Roll-Ups
🔹 Navigating Roll-Up Development: Overcoming Challenges
🔹 Improvements in Developer Tooling
🔹 Language Compatibility
🔹 Gas Efficiency Benefits
🔹 Future Evolution of Layer Twos

🎥 Watch the full session to gain valuable insights and stay ahead in the blockchain technology landscape!

Scalability remains a pressing issue as Ethereum scales. Layer 2s, particularly roll-ups, offer a promising solution. But how should developers approach and use these solutions?

David Weisiger, Head of DevRel @ Taiko, recently shared some vital insights on this topic. Let's deep dive:

1. Permissionless Roll-ups at Taiko: Instead of having a sequencer that determines which blocks get added, anyone can propose a block.

👉️️️️️️ Example: Imagine a Uniswap-like interface but for proposing and verifying L2 blocks, leveling the playing field. However, this system presents unique challenges, like duplicate blocks being proposed by different people.

2. PBS - Proposer Builder Separation: Think of it as having architects (proposers) and builders (executors) working separately to design and construct an edifice.

👉️️️️️️ Example: Visualize a Dapp where proposers are responsible for crafting transactional blueprints. Then, separate entities, the builders, step in to execute them.

3. MEV Boost & FlashBots: It's like a highway where Ethereum validators can find the fastest route (economically profitable blocks) using tools like MEV Boost.

👉️️️️️️ Example: Think of validators harnessing MEV-boosted paths, which function similarly to how traders exploit arbitrage opportunities.

🎥️️️️️️ To learn about more solutions and for an in-depth exploration of David's talks – we highly recommend tuning into the full session from Epic ETH Infra Day.

🚀 Save the date! On September 21st, NYC will be buzzing with Epic Layer 2 Day!

🔥 Here’s a quick sneak peek of what to expect:

🎙️Keynotes by:
Dr. Jan Gorzny, Head of L2 Scaling @ Quanstamp
Gal Ron, Product Manager @ StarkWare
​Gabriel Barros, DevRel @ Cartesi

🎙️AMA-session with Harry Kalodner, Co-Founder @ Offchain Labs

🎙️Panel discussion “Web3’s Scaling: Layer 2 Innovations in Focus”:
​​Bruno Maia, Ecosystem Growth Lead @ Cartesi
Mathieu Chanson, Blockchain Product Lead for the L2 transition @ cLabs / CELO
Marcin Kaźmierczak, Co-Founder & COO @ RedStone
Omar Azhar, Head of Business Development @ Matter Labs / ZKsync
Armand Khatri, DeFi Lead, @ Base

Moderated by Tom Ngo, Executive Leader @ Metis L2

Don't miss out on this opportunity to dive deep into the world of Layer 2 solutions.

Register here

How to Bypass the Limitations of Traditional Rollups 🚀

❗️️️️️️️Traditional rollups like optimism have centralized sequencers, presenting a single point of failure. This centralization raises concerns about performance, censorship, and income distribution. Additionally, the need for hard forks, like when Ethereum upgrades, poses risks for dapps operating on these networks.

Dorothy Liu, AltLayer's Head of Growth, recently took the stage in Seoul to break down how AltLayer is navigating these rollup issues:

– Decentralization at its core: AltLayer introduces the 'beacon layer', an intermediary layer between rollups and the base layer (Ethereum). It decentralizes sequencers and validators, ensuring the community operates them. This decentralized network eliminates the single point of failure and distributes income across the community.

– Seamless Upgrades: AltLayer's framework supports programmable upgradability, eliminating the need for hard forks.

– Customization & Flexibility: AltLayer’s no-code platform allows you to spin up a rollup in mere minutes. Builders have the choice of tech stacks, the DA layer, base layer, and even gas models.

🎥 Check out Dorothy's full talk to learn more about the benefits of community-operated sequences, the value of programmable upgradability.

✨️️️️️️️Reflecting on a Day to Remember! ✨️️️️️️️

As we wrap up and the dust settles, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who was a part of Epic ETH Infra Day in Seoul.

💜️️️️️️ Our deepest gratitude goes out to our sponsors and partners!:
Taiko Labs, ZKM, zkLink, zkSync, Matter Labs, Axelar, Avascan, and Dappos.

🤝️️️️️️ A monumental shoutout to our esteemed speakers who graced our stage:

Marco Cora, SVP Business and Operationsr, Matter Labs
Ed Felten, Co-founder, Offchain Labs 
Sandy Peng, Co-founder, Scroll
Vincent Yang, Co-founder, zkLink 
Matthew Finestone, Co-founder, Taiko Labs
Kevin Liu, Co-founder and CEO, ZKM
Ben Thalman, CFA, Figment
Giacomo Barbieri, Operations Lead, Avascan
Dorothy Liu, Head of Growth, AltLayer
Ben Weinberg, Dev Rel, Axelar Network
Francesco Andreolí, DevRel Consensys

Their insights, knowledge, and vision have been invaluable 🚀

Next stop: New York! 🗽 We can't wait to connect with you there.

🌐 Axelar joins us ast Epic ETH Infra Day!

The revolutionary decentralized network that's redefining blockchain interoperability.

Main things you need to know about Axelar:

🔗 Blockchain Connectivity: Axelar is breaking down barriers by enabling seamless communication and transactions between different blockchains

⛓️ Cross-Chain Transactions: Effortlessly move assets across 45+ blockchains

🚀 Scalability & Performance: Axelar's architecture is designed for high performance and scalability, ensuring efficient cross-chain communication.

🔥 Ben Weinber, DevRel of Axelar, will give a talk:“Unleashing the Power of Secure Interchain Interoperability” next Monday!


Join us in Seoul – Register