Ethereum

Starknet is an Ethereum Layer 2 network designed to scale blockchain applications by processing transactions outside Ethereum mainnet and submitting cryptographic validity proofs for verification. It uses STARK proofs and Cairo, a programming language designed for verifiable computation and smart contract development. These technologies form the foundation of Starknet’s approach to transaction execution and settlement.

Crypto lottery platforms are digital products that let users use cryptocurrencies to enter draws, fund prize pools, and receive payouts through on-chain or platform-based systems. In 2026, these platforms range from smart-contract raffles and no-loss prize pools to centralized betting products that accept crypto payments. The most useful way to evaluate a crypto lottery platform is to focus on verifiable randomness, custody model, audit history, prize-pool rules, and regional compliance rather than only on advertised jackpots.

Six widely cited SocialFi projects are Cyber (CyberConnect), Friend.tech, Cheelee, Lens Protocol, Open Campus, and Farcaster. SocialFi merges social networking with DeFi so users can own identity and content; 2026 updates center on stewardship handoffs and which models still work after the keys boom.

ERC-20 is a technical standard for fungible tokens on Ethereum. It defines a shared set of smart-contract functions so wallets, exchanges, and dApps can handle assets such as USDT or LINK the same way, while native ETH remains the separate currency used to pay network fees.

The Ethereum long/short ratio measures how net-long and net-short positioning is distributed among ETH futures and perpetual traders, counted by account or by position notional. Readings above 1 skew long, below 1 skew short, and because notional always nets out the metric describes structure, not capital flow.

Unichain and Base are both Ethereum Layer 2 networks built on the OP Stack inside the Optimism Superchain, and both charge gas in ETH. Unichain is optimized for DeFi trading with one-second blocks, Flashblock preconfirmations, and a TEE block builder; Base is a general-purpose L2 incubated by Coinbase with a broader consumer app ecosystem.

Unichain is a DeFi-focused Ethereum Layer 2 built by Uniswap Labs on the OP Stack and deployed within the Optimism Superchain. Its mainnet uses chain ID 130, produces one-second blocks with roughly 200-millisecond Flashblock preconfirmations, charges gas in ETH, and operates as a Stage 1 rollup with permissionless fault proofs.

Crypto staking locks tokens on Proof-of-Stake (PoS) networks to support validation and earn protocol rewards. Gate On-Chain Earn lists PoS staking products; Simple Earn is lending-based yield, not staking. Rewards show as Est. APR, and redemption rules vary by product and lock period.

Compounding in crypto Earn products means interest or rewards are added back to the accrual base so later periods earn on a larger balance. Gate Simple Earn Flexible auto-reinvests hourly interest; Soft Staking daily rewards expand the next day’s snapshot base; Simple Earn Fixed Term pays principal and interest at maturity; Flexible uses T+1 hourly payout—redeem before T+1 and you forfeit that hour’s interest.

What is zkAPI? Learn how zero-knowledge proofs can enable privacy-preserving AI API payments, anonymous credentials, usage verification, and blockchain-based settlement.

NEAR is a Layer 1 blockchain and its native token, and it is trending as NEAR Intents expands cross-chain transaction execution, Confidential Intents adds privacy-focused trading infrastructure, and integrations and incentives across the ecosystem drive fresh market attention.

Qubic suits high-frequency applications that need zero transfer fees, sub-second finality, and high-performance smart contracts; Bitcoin suits store-of-value and censorship-resistant transfers; Ethereum suits developers who rely on a mature DeFi and EVM ecosystem. The three differ across consensus, fees, smart contracts, and energy.

Crypto rallying means cryptocurrency prices are rising, but the driver matters as much as the move itself. Sometimes Bitcoin rises because financial conditions are improving across global markets. Treasury yields fall, the U.S. dollar weakens, equities rise, and investors become more willing to take risks. Crypto is then participating in a broader macro-driven rally.

Curve creates an “optimal trading path” through the StableSwap algorithm, which is designed specifically for stablecoins. It offers extremely low slippage when asset prices are close to one another, while gradually adjusting the curve when prices diverge to help maintain market stability. Its core mechanism optimizes both the shape of the pricing curve and the distribution of liquidity, allowing each trade path to minimize price impact and capital loss as much as possible.

Curve and Uniswap are both decentralized exchange protocols built on automated market maker, or AMM, mechanisms, but they differ significantly in pricing curve design and use cases. Uniswap uses the constant product formula and is suited to trading any type of asset, while Curve uses the StableSwap curve to optimize low slippage swaps between stablecoins and similar assets. In terms of liquidity structure, Uniswap emphasizes broad asset trading, while Curve focuses more on capital efficiency for stable asset swaps. The two AMM models serve different functions in the DeFi market: Uniswap acts as general purpose liquidity infrastructure, while Curve serves as the core layer for stablecoin trading and liquidity optimization.