Project Progress

Ripple has developed a four-phase roadmap to secure the XRP Ledger against quantum computing threats by 2028, addressing concerns over blockchain cryptography vulnerabilities. Key phases include researching quantum risks and implementing advanced security methods. XRP Ledger is currently better equipped than Bitcoin, with built-in key rotation enhancing safety.

Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has established a regulatory framework for round-the-clock trading of tokenized products on licensed platforms. With 13 tokenized products and approximately HK$10.7 billion in assets, this initiative aims to integrate traditional finance with Web3 through regulated stablecoins and tokenized deposits, enhancing liquidity.

JSCC, under the JPX Japan Exchange Group, partnered with Mizuho, Nomura, and Digital Asset to launch a concept proof-of-concept project based on the Canton network. The project will test the feasibility of Japanese government bonds as digital collateral, with the aim of improving liquidity and management efficiency in financial markets, and ensuring it does not conflict with existing regulations. The initiative also covers cross-border trading scenarios, signaling the application potential of Japanese government bonds in the digital asset space.

Vitalik Buterin presented Ethereum's five-year roadmap, focusing on quantum security and scalability. Key goals include increasing gas limits, implementing Zero Knowledge Proofs, and enhancing transaction confirmation times by 2028, despite challenges with quantum-resistant signatures.

Nexchain introduced Smart Actions, a suite of intelligent modules designed to transform blockchain networks from manual, reactive systems into autonomous and self-optimizing environments, according to an announcement on April 18, 2026. The product reflects the company's commitment to building

The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission will issue two guidance circulars for tokenized products in 2026, covering primary-market subscription and redemption and secondary-market trading requirements, respectively. The circulars will clearly define the responsibilities of product providers, liquidity requirements, and fair pricing mechanisms. The new regulatory framework will affect how the industry operates and will create new business opportunities for compliance lawyers, forming a template for tokenized finance regulation in the Asia-Pacific region.

World has launched an upgraded World ID protocol for secure digital verification in various sectors. It enhances privacy and supports AI applications while managing user identities across 160 countries, verifying nearly 18 million individuals.

Cobo has launched the Cobo Agentic Wallet, enabling AI agents to conduct on-chain transactions under user-defined controls. Utilizing Multi-Party Computation for security and incorporating Pact and Recipes protocols, it supports various operational modes for diverse risk levels.

Pi Network has issued an official notice to node operators, requiring them to complete the mandatory upgrade of the agreement version 22.1 (v22.1) by April 27, 2026; otherwise, they face the risk of their nodes being cut off from network connectivity. According to a Pi Network announcement, this upgrade must be carried out in strict version order. Currently, the system is running on version 21.2; the next step is to upgrade to v22.1, and no versions may be skipped.

Spark's strategy chief defended maintaining high borrowing rates on SparkLend despite user migration to Aave, citing current market conditions. Aave is experiencing liquidity issues, raising concerns about potential bad debt if ETH prices drop significantly.

Tether and the LayerZero team’s all-chain stablecoin project USDT0 posted on the X platform on April 20. The USDT0 transfer function has been restored to normal, and overall system integrity has not been affected. There has been no change in risk exposure, and all transactions in progress prior to the suspension have been settled. Previously, USDT0, for precautionary purposes, paused the USDT0 OFT cross-chain bridge infrastructure during the rsETH incident investigation.

Pi Network mandates node operators to upgrade to Protocol 22 by April 27, 2026, to ensure network connectivity. The upgrade enhances stability and prepares for future smart contract features. Delaying could result in disconnection and missed opportunities.

SGB enables instant USDC minting and redemption on Solana, improving cross-border payments with real-time settlement. Service targets institutions, removing intermediaries and supporting 24/7 liquidity and treasury management. Expansion plans include more stablecoins and retail access, li

USDT0 has resumed its cross-chain bridge operations with no integrity or risk issues, following a temporary suspension during the KelpDAO rsETH investigation. All prior transactions were safely settled, and USDT0 tokens remain fully backed.

In a talk at the Hong Kong Web3 Carnival, Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin introduced Ethereum’s development plan for the next four to five years, including near-term scaling, account abstraction, and preparation for post-quantum cryptography, and proposed a three-stage roadmap for ZK-EVM, aimed at improving Ethereum’s security, general-purpose capabilities, and decentralized verification power.

Gate News update: LayerZero confirms via its blog that the LayerZero DVN is now live. LayerZero recommends that more DVN teams resume operations.

Hong Kong officials announced that they are studying the rules for the secondary market of tokenized products, and plan to release details in the first half of 2026. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has issued the first batch of two stablecoin licenses, driving the development of digital assets, while Hong Kong is also actively expanding the use of tokenized money market funds and green bonds. In addition, the flow of funds between Hong Kong and the Middle East has been increasing as well.

The metaverse platform HYTOPIA decided to pause the operation of its infrastructure because a large IRS tax refund has not yet been received. The platform plans to be offline for 1 to 3 months. A dispute over unpaid invoices between the platform and HY Foundation has also led to delays in the delivery of some tokens. HYTOPIA promises to handle this matter transparently and asks the community to be patient and wait.

Pi Network’s official announcement says there are currently more than 18 million users who have completed KYC, emphasizing that verified users matter more in transactions than other unverified accounts. The core team believes identity verification is crucial to transaction trust, and therefore has built a mainnet ecosystem with full KYC verification to ensure identities are verifiable, reduce spam, and improve overall credibility.

Curve Finance has been attacked over LayerZero infrastructure related to rsETH, and has temporarily suspended cross-chain functionality to prevent risk, impacting CRV cross-chain bridging and the fast bridging of crvUSD. Founder Egorov said the incident demonstrates the risk of “non-isolated lending,” and proposed a fully isolated mode as an alternative. Kelp DAO also suffered losses of about $292 million due to the attack, affecting lending activity on the Aave platform.