zkAlpha Watchlist: 29 new infra and DeFi projects (modular, ZK, restaking)
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Update to the zkAlpha Watchlist, now tracking 174 projects across modularity, rollups, interop, ZK, FHE, restaking and intent-based DeFi. Recaps covered projects and adds short profiles of 20-plus new names such as Dymension, Saga, Zama, Fhenix and several LRT protocols.
Key claims
Watchlist tracks 174 projects
restakefi launched RSTK 20 days before the post
Swell is the largest token-less LST
I spent years researching blockchain infra & DeFi 馃摎 馃攳
With the experience & (zero)knowledge I gained along my journey, I built an alpha watchlist!
From modularity and ZK to restaking or intents, from now on you'll be early!
馃У on the biggest update yet (29 new projects)!
1/ Finding alpha plays is hard.
Information on Twitter is fragmented and establishing a constant flow of high-quality alpha is complex with all the noise.
So, what if there was a single place where you can find both live & upcoming projects that lead the hottest narratives?
2/ Well, there is!
The zkAlpha Watchlist tracks 174 projects and counting!
It spans from infrastructure (modularism, rollups, interop solutions & ZK) to DeFi (LSDFi, Restaking or Intent-based Perp DEXes) and helps you discover projects early.
Are you ready for alpha anon? 馃憖
3/ Let's start with some projects I have covered in-depth the past weeks.
First up, @MangataFinance. They're building an omni-chain liquidity network for native assets (think @Thorchain) atop @eigencloud, implemented as chain-agnostic, hybrid ZK rollup.
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1737443087339675978
4/ @Picasso_Network is an IBC-powered interoperability hub that takes @eigencloud-style restaking cross-chain, allowing to use its generalized layer of programmable trust to secure arbitrary programs.
Example? Secure @Solana IBC by restaking Solana LSDs!
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1734981757110521986
5/ With @eigencloud season incoming, projects that are building on @eigencloud will be very hot!
One of them is @HyperSpaceAI. They are building an AI-native L1 chain which enshrines a novel AI virtual machine and is solely bootstrapped on @eigencloud.
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1742271353154347308
6/ To secure @eigencloud-based Actively Validated Services (AVS) we also need robust restaking infrastructure.
Restaking protocols like @KelpDAO reduce complexity for the end user and enable users to stay liquid through Liquid Restaking Tokens (LRTs).
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1736726918530310462
7/ Another big narrative I see coming up in 2024 evolves around Bitcoin.
@chainway_xyz is building a sovereign, EVM ZK rollup fully secured by Bitcoin on the @sovereign_labs.
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1745920580392718772
8/ Another project building an EVM-compatible ZK rollup on Bitcoin is @SatoshiVM, which has gained some significant traction with its public testnet.
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1745545577746829553
9/ Yesterday, I also covered @babylon_chain.
Babylon is an IBC-enabled Cosmos SDK chain running a CosmWasm execution environment.
It derives its security from a BTC staking module that is also expandable to other chains. Basically @eigencloud for BTC!
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1746215641856757918
10/ @CrustNetwork is building a DA layer for L2s implemented as a ZK rollup (EthDA), using danksharding principles.
State validation on Ethereum & Arweave-style permanent storage feature. DAS ensures scalable blobspace & improved enduser-verifiability.
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1740856992456233291
11/ But there is much more! Let's dive into some of the projects that I haven't talked about yet much.
Some of them will definitely be covered in detail over the next few weeks.
Ready for more alpha anon?
12/ @dymension
A network of easily deployable and lightning fast, app-specific modular blockchains called RollApps.
The Dymension hub acts as a settlement & coordination layer, while data is posted to modular DA layers like @CelestiaOrg or @AvailProject.
Airdrop incoming! 馃獋
13/ @Sagaxyz__
Saga is a Web3 scalability protocol for the automated deployment of dedicated blockspace.
It builds the infra for (gaming) projects to deploy their own blockchain (chainlet) and scale easily using Saga's shared security model.
Airdrop incoming! 馃獋
14/ @TalusFND
MoveVM based L2 execution layer built on top of Ethereum. Not much information around network design yet but definitely an interesting concept!
15/ @zama
Zama is building tools that incorporate a form of Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE), such as bringing private smart contracts to the blockchain via their fhEVM.
Need to catch up on FHE? 馃憞
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1607738109562880003
16/ @fhenix
FHE will be a big narrative. So keep your eyes on the first Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) powered L2 that aims to bring computation over encrypted data to Ethereum!
17/ @ModulusZK
Being built by @wearecultdao, Modulus aims to build a zkEVM L2 that allows users to have more control over the privacy of their transactions.
18/ @nebrazkp
More of a research driven community.
However, they are currently working on a proof aggregation service on Ethereum that will incorporate their "Universal ZK-ZK Proof Aggregation" construction to aggregate all types of ZKPs with different use cases. Very big!
19/ @powdr_labs
Powdr is working on a zkVM language and compiler toolkit that allows for an enhanced DevEx for creating ZKPs while retaining maximum flexibility & composability in the process.
20/ @BandanaDev
Building a framework to safeguard the privacy of group interactions by seamlessly incorporating diverse credential providers and constructing both robust anti-Sybil measures & reputation systems.
21/ @project_shutter
An open-source initiative addressing the challenges of MEV & frontrunning on-chain.
It introduces a decentralized solution using threshold cryptography to prevent frontrunning on Ethereum (and later beyond).
22/ @Mozaic_Fi
AI-Optimized Yield and Liquidity Strategies, powered by @LayerZero_Labs. Built on @arbitrum, the team even managed to secure a $200k grant from Google. Keep an eye on this one!
23/ @restakefi
The first mover in the restaking protocol market (token wise) is @restakefi, which launched $RSTK 20 days ago and has seen impressive price performance ever since!
24/ @AstridFinance
Developing a concept to pool LSTs and transfers them to multiple delegator smart contracts, reducing bad actor and slashing risks involved in restaking.
25/ @swellnetworkio
This is the largest token-less LST and they are also developing an LRT in the form of $rswETH.
While caps are full, they have a points system where you can earn additional pearls to potentially farm a much bigger airdrop!
26/ @renzoai
LRT protocol that will offer native restaking strategies, aka monitoring and handling the AVS chains secured under Eigen Layer.
27/ @puffer_finance Finance
offering a different approach. Aside from its anti-slashing measures, the project will offer native restaking on Eigen Layer, bringing more decentralization.
28/ @RioRestaking
LRT and AVS strategy manager protocol. Its first product is reETH, which provides access to risk-managed ETH total return without sacrificing liquidity
29/ @ionprotocol
Lending-borrowing platform for Staked and restaked assets. It lets you lend & borrow against any staked or restaked asset with no exposure to price-based liquidation risk.
30/ @jumperapp
Multi-chain liquidity aggregator powered by @lifiprotocol (already on the watchlist), providing users a smooth UX and a very broad support for networks to trade on / bridge to.
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