TL;DR The ZetaChain ecosystem takes the first step towards implementing ZetaChain 2.0, the first Universal EVM. Consensus marks the close of the month and great excitement going into summer 2024!
ZetaChain’s mission is to serve as a platform for universal access, simplicity, and utility across any blockchain. A key part of this effort is ZetaChain 2.0, a series of proposed upgrades by the community focused on the Chain Abstraction Framework (CAF). In order to support companies building for chain abstraction and new Universal Apps, we are actively running a dedicated Ecosystem Fund Growth Program with a focus on unlocking innovative Bitcoin apps. New exciting products and initiatives are underway leading into summer 2024, all while we continue to host and sponsor events around the world!
ZetaChain 2.0 aims to unlock new prospective use cases such as Universal Proof of Stake and Universal Apps that can manage complex interactions, apps, and assets on external chains on behalf of users. In May, the ZetaChain ecosystem implemented the first 2.0 functionality now available to developers on testnet: the Cross-Chain Messaging upgrade.
In short, this upgrade allows ZetaChain’s messaging and asset-management capabilities to be composable across many chains. For example, a developer could design complex, multi-step transactions (a contract on ZetaChain could be called by a user on Bitcoin and also enact external contract calls on Ethereum and BNB Chain, and more legs thereafter). All of this is abstracted away for end-users and can happen in one step.
Learn more about the Cross-Chain Messaging feature and other upgrades bundled into our latest release in our last Protocol AMA on May 22nd. Visit the public node repository to learn more and contribute to ZetaChain development.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXXtLYi_iGk&t=6s
May included partnership expansion across the ecosystem stack including new ecosystem partners across SocialFi, GameFi, DeFi, and analytics! In addition to the recap summary below, check out some of these apps live on our latest Zeta Demo Day on omnichain DeFi and GameFi. Also, just last week, we interviewed a core contributor to ZetaChain business development and hosted an Ecosystem AMA on Twitter Spaces!
Zeta Demo Day: Omnichain DeFi and GameFi, May 23rd
Plugman, the composable, multichain NFT collection, came out of stealth mode in May. The Japanese based, artist-first team aims to explore contemporary human life and the dream world through composable digital assets. With ZetaChain, Plugman introduces new cross-chain mechanics and GameFi to the NFT experience.
The team is actively seeking collaboration with ZetaChain community contributors and global NFT enthusiasts as they gear up for launch! If you’re interested in contributing as an early supporter, complete this intake form. Learn more from the Plugman team live on the ZetaRadio Stage!
Note, Plugman will host its first in-person NFT event: DOOH Digital animation of Plugman in Harajuku, featuring an impressive 3D animation. The address 3-chōme-23-5 Jingūmae, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0001, Japan. Stay tuned for the registration page!
SugarFi, the new multichain-first social networking app launched into ZetaChain’s XP program in May and already attracted more than 30,000 active users! The progressive web app lets anyone create content, monetize, and socialize with the broader community across any chain. With ZetaChain, Sugar onboards users and their assets from any chain and powers payments and transfers to friends in a simple UX. This solves the challenge of chain fragmentation in web3, historically limiting a fluid social networking experience.
In our effort to expand Bitcoin wallet compatibility, we were excited to announce last month that UniSat Wallet integrated ZetaChain! App developers can integrate Bitcoin wallets like UniSat to let users interact with any Universal App on ZetaChain from the Bitcoin network.