Project Progress

Pi Network announced a phased plan to upgrade nodes to v23. Version 21.2 will be deployed in April 2026, with future versions supporting smart contracts and enhancing node tools and autonomy. Market feedback is cautiously optimistic, but past delays have kept users on hold. The next few months will be a critical window.

The Solana Foundation has launched a new proxy payment gateway based on the X402 protocol, aimed at lowering the barriers for merchants to adopt crypto payments and promoting stablecoin usage. The system supports real-time settlement, reducing price volatility risks and helping traditional businesses enter the blockchain payment space. The market response has been positive, but challenges remain in regulation and user growth, marking a trend of blockchain transitioning into commercial applications.

Gate News reports that on March 26, a16z co-founder Marc Andreessen reposted a study on human proof by World co-founder Alex Blania and commented, "It's time to prove humanity's existence."

Justin Sun's team-developed AI detective system can efficiently process complex case data, identify suspects, and has analyzed over $1 billion worth of cases. They have allocated $100 million in rewards to white hats and law enforcement agencies that provide clues, and will collaborate with judicial authorities in China, the U.S., and other regions.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies announces the launch of the Ethereum staking platform "MAVAN," providing services for institutional investors and digital asset custody institutions. MAVAN will utilize 4.66 million ETH to earn staking rewards and plans to expand into more blockchain sectors. The platform is expected to generate nearly $300 million in staking rewards annually.

Ripple is testing its RLUSD stablecoin in Singapore's regulatory sandbox to automate trade finance payments. The pilot streamlines processes by triggering instant payments post-shipment verification, enhancing efficiency and supporting Ripple's expansion strategy.

The Polygon community released the PIP-85 proposal on March 26, adjusting the priority fee distribution, introducing an equal weight factor, and setting the staking reward ratio, aiming to fairly reward network participants and incentivize validators.

Regulated UK-based Monument Bank plans to tokenize approximately $335 million of retail customer deposits on the Midnight network. These deposits will continue to accrue interest and be fully insured under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. In the future, tokenized investment products and asset-backed loan services will be launched.

Nic Carter pointed out that Bitcoin is making slow progress on quantum-resistant upgrades, while Ethereum has made it a strategic priority, planning to complete the upgrade by 2029. He warned that current elliptic curve cryptography faces threats from quantum computing, highlighting the difference in development directions between the two.

Pudgy Penguins disrupts the $31.7B licensed toy market by using a "Negative CAC" model, achieving over 2M unit sales in 10,000 retail locations. It has gained cultural significance through partnerships and aims for $120M revenue in 2026 ahead of a possible IPO.

The essay discusses the need for "Verifiable Privacy" in professional trading, highlighting Umbra's unique technical approach and performance-based tokenomics. It notes the privacy sector’s strong growth and upcoming catalysts for Umbra’s expansion.

Bitpanda launches Vision Chain, aimed at addressing European financial infrastructure bottlenecks and connecting regulated finance with on-chain economy. The blockchain is based on Optimism technology, providing a compliant environment for institutions, facilitating tokenized asset issuance, supporting decentralized finance development, and enhancing user investment opportunities.

Gitcoin reminds users to withdraw funds from Public Goods Network (PGN) before 21:00 on April 20. Unclaimed funds will be transferred to the Gitcoin Foundation. PGN ceased operations in October 2024 and launched the BalanceClaimer contract to support users in withdrawing assets.

MilkyWay has officially announced that it has initiated the L1 mainnet shutdown process, completed on-chain upgrades, and safely migrated user assets back to the native chain. Users can view their relevant assets on the original network, and if they are not visible, they can contact the official team for assistance.

Pump.Fun co-founder Alon announced restrictions on token creator fee allocation changes, allowing only a single modification to enhance trading transparency. However, over 95% of users still recorded losses due to unresolved structural issues including token supply oversupply, early participant advantages, and rapid liquidity withdrawal. This update did not fundamentally change market conditions.

Bitcoin Depot announces that former MoneyGram CEO Alex Holmes has assumed the role of chief executive officer as the company faces enforcement pressure from multiple states. Holmes will focus on operational stability and regulatory reform, with revenue expected to decline 30% to 40% in 2026. Meanwhile, BTM stock has performed poorly, with cumulative losses exceeding 94%.

Gate News reported that on March 26, privacy computing company TACEO launched its privacy solution Merces II. The solution is deployed on the Plasma testnet and built based on TACEO Network's OMap service, aiming to provide a private account system for stablecoins. When users deposit funds and conduct transactions, account balances, transfer records, and counterparty information will all be hidden. Additionally, Merces II can directly integrate with existing

Ethereum privacy-enhanced L2 network Payy completed a $6 million funding round on March 26, led by FirstMark Capital. Payy is now live, and users can add this network in MetaMask for easy private transfers. All ERC-20 tokens are stored through privacy pools, with private transaction data stored in off-chain vaults.

MilkyWay's official announcement states that it has initiated the L1 mainnet shutdown process, completed on-chain upgrades, and safely migrated user assets back to the native chain. Users can view their assets on their respective blockchains, and the team is available to assist with any issues.