Weekly Project Updates: Tron Cuts Fees, Pudgy Penguins Launches Web3 Mobile Game, Aave Officially Releases Institutional - Grade Platform Horizon, etc

Aug 30, 2025

1. Ethereum Foundation Releases “Protocol Update 003 — Improve UX” link

Ethereum Foundation has released “Protocol Update 003 — Improve UX”, focusing on user experience improvement (Improve UX), which is one of the three major strategies after the R&D team was reorganized in June (Scale L1, Scale Blobs, Improve UX). The article emphasizes interoperability (interop) as the core, aiming for a seamless, secure, and permissionless Ethereum ecosystem experience. The work is divided into three streams: initialization (Open Intents Framework, Ethereum Interoperability Layer, interoperability standards), acceleration (fast L1 confirmation, 6-second slot time, shorter L2 settlement), and finalization (SNARK real-time proof, fast L1 finality). By reducing latency and costs, enhancing security and trustlessness, it optimizes cross-chain asset movement and user experience.

2. Hyperliquid’s Market Share Rises Continuously, Derivatives Volume Reaches 13.6% of Binance’s link

Hyperliquid has recently continued to expand its share in the decentralized derivatives market and now occupies approximately 80% of the perpetual protocol market share. The trading volume ratio between it and Binance has risen to 13.6%, compared with about 8% at the beginning of the year. Its total trading volume has exceeded 200 billion US dollars. The support for cross — chain deposits (including Bitcoin) is regarded as one of the key factors driving growth, enabling it to benchmark centralized exchanges in terms of liquidity and user experience.

3. Tron Blockchain Community Votes to Approve Proposal, Cutting Network Transaction Fees by 60% link

The Tron blockchain community has voted to approve a proposal to reduce network transaction fees by 60%. Justin Sun, the founder, stated that while this move will impact the network’s profitability in the short term, it will help attract more users and transactions in the long run. Previously, Tron’s transaction fees reached a historical high in June, which affected users engaged in daily stablecoin transactions. Going forward, Tron will review the fee level on a quarterly basis to balance profitability and competitiveness.

4. Linea Network’s TVL Grows 312% to $658 Million Since Early August link

According to data from DeFiLlama, possibly driven by expectations of a potential airdrop, the TVL (Total Value Locked) of the Linea network has increased by 312% since the beginning of August, reaching $658 million. Declan Fox, a member of the Linea team, also posted a data chart on Twitter regarding real users and Sybil users of Linea LXP. Sybil users account for the largest proportion in the LXP range of 65 to approximately 2,000, but as LXP increases, the proportion of addresses belonging to real users becomes higher.

5. Succinct: To Introduce ZK on Arbitrum Chain link

Succinct has announced a one — year exclusive strategic partnership with Tandem, the incubator of Offchain Labs, to introduce Zero — Knowledge Proof (ZK) on the Arbitrum chain. Succinct said that the partnership aims to promote the Arbitrum chain to achieve faster, more secure and cross — chain interoperability, while allowing value to flow through the entire Succinct ecosystem to reward provers, stakers and partner protocols.

6. Bybit Unveils Joint MNT Roadmap “MNT x Bybit 2.0” link

Bybit announced the joint roadmap for MNT, “MNT x Bybit 2.0”, which will expand the diverse uses of MNT in trading, payment, savings, Launchpool and other areas. Starting from the end of September, it will offer MNT trading fee discounts to non-API users (up to 25% discount for spot trading and up to 10% discount for contract trading). MNT is an ecological token based on Mantle, supporting its modular Ethereum Layer 2 (L2) network.

7. The Sandbox Founder Steps Down, Company Lays Off Over 50% of Staff link

The co-founders of The Sandbox, Arthur Madrid and Sébastien Borget, have stepped down from their day-to-day operations, and Robby Yung, an executive at Animoca Brands, has taken over as CEO. The company has laid off more than 50% of its staff, affecting teams in Argentina, Uruguay, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and other countries. Its office in Lyon, France, will be closed, and there will also be layoffs in Paris. Going forward, The Sandbox will downplay its metaverse focus and shift to Web3 applications, with plans to launch a meme token launch platform based on Base.

8. Pudgy Penguins Announces Launch of Web3 Mobile Game “Pudgy Party” link

Pudgy Penguins announced the launch of the Web3 mobile game Pudgy Party, which was developed with the participation of Mythical Games, the developer of FIFA Rivals. The game allows players to compete through mini-games, customize characters, and interact with digital collectibles. Although the PENGU token is not integrated into the game initially, the team stated that they will explore ways to integrate assets such as PENGU and MYTH in the future.

9. Decentralized Lending Protocol Aave Labs Officially Releases Institutional — Grade Platform Horizon link

Decentralized lending protocol Aave Labs has officially launched its institutional-grade platform Horizon, which enables qualified institutions to borrow stablecoins such as USDC, GHO, and RLUSD using RWA (Real-World Asset) collaterals including tokenized U.S. Treasury bonds and loan claims. The platform is built on the permissioned version of Aave V3. The first batch of partners includes Circle, VanEck, WisdomTree, Chainlink, among others. Additionally, Chainlink provides it with key infrastructure such as real-time on-chain net asset value (NAV) data and proof of reserves.

10. Stargate Announces Termination of STG Staking Function link

LayerZero Foundation has officially completed the full acquisition of Stargate (STG), including the protocol, tokens and treasury. After the acquisition, STG tokens can be exchanged for LayerZero’s native token ZRO at a fixed exchange rate (1 STG = 0.08634 ZRO), and the exchange window will be open for a long term. In addition, StargateDAO will be dissolved and the STG staking function will be terminated, but the previously locked STG will be automatically unlocked, and users can exchange it for ZRO at any time. Meanwhile, all veSTG holders who locked their tokens before August 10 will share 50% of Stargate’s protocol revenue in the next six months, and the other 50% will be used for ZRO repurchase.

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