New MetaMask Feature: Ethereum Collective Staking
The developers of the non-custodial wallet MetaMask announced the launch of the “collective” Ethereum staking function. This service lowers the minimum entry threshold from 32 ETH (~$113,000), making staking accessible to a wide range of users, CoinDesk reports.
CoinDesk noted that MetaMask does not have a number of features that could make it stand out among its competitors. For example, projects like Lido and Rocket Pool offer liquid staking tokens (LSTs) that can be used in DeFi protocols to increase yield. MetaMask, however, does not intend to implement its own LST, focusing on other aspects of development.
Solana accused several validators of participating in "sandwich attacks"
The Solana Foundation has announced that it has removed several validators from its delegation program due to their involvement in sandwich attacks against users. This was announced by Tim Garcia, head of blockchain validator relations, in the official Discord channel. Earlier, on May 7, a representative of the fund warned that such activities violate the rules of the ecosystem.
The “sandwich attack” is an aggressive strategy by MEV bots that extract maximum profits from certain trades, leaving ordinary traders with assets at worse prices. Initially, such operations were not possible in Solana, since the blockchain client did not have a mempool. However, some validators implemented “modifications” that allowed these attacks to occur. Excluded validators will still be able to participate in blockchain governance, but without funding from the Solana Foundation.
Base overtook Optimism in TVL
The total value locked (TVL) on Ethereum's second layer network, Base, has surpassed $8 billion, surpassing Optimism's OP Mainnet. TVL Base is $2.13 billion in canonical value (Ethereum-pegged assets) and $5.84 billion in native value.
Coinbase's protocol has overtaken the OP Mainnet to become the largest network in the superchain ecosystem and the second largest Ethereum scaling solution, behind only Arbitrum One at $18.27 billion.
Over the past month, Base also led the world in transactions per second (TPS), reaching 30.36 TPS. For comparison, the second fastest network, Arbitrum One, recorded 23.52 TPS. In total, over the past 30 days, the Base network processed about 64.86 million transactions.
Buterin spoke about ways to use cryptocurrencies in everyday life
Discussing the promise of digital assets in everyday life, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin opined on the potential use of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) and other blockchain technologies. According to Buterin, ZKP mechanisms can be useful for verifying identity, credentials or reputation.
For international payments, Buterin proposed using cryptocurrency P2P platforms, which significantly improved the interface and reduced commissions. He also noted the prospects in the field of decentralized social networks and prediction markets, which are already being actively used.
The co-founder of Ethereum recommended the implementation of ZKP in enterprise applications to improve data security. In addition, he proposed using this technology in voting systems to ensure their resistance to censorship.
Trezor introduced a new Safe 5 wallet
Cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Trezor has unveiled its new flagship product, Safe 5, including a special version designed exclusively for BTC. At BTC Prague 2024, the company also announced the Trezor Expert service, which offers customers personalized device setup sessions.
According to the manufacturer, the Safe 5 wallet will allow users to safely store, manage, stake and use thousands of cryptocurrencies using the Trezor Suite desktop and mobile application. The device features a larger color touchscreen with haptic feedback and a new secure element designed to store sensitive information and complete transactions. The backup system has also been improved.
Unlike competitors such as Ledger, Trezor wallets are open source, allowing for community auditing, helping to identify and fix vulnerabilities faster. However, open source code can make devices more vulnerable to theft.
CZ owns 64% of the total BNB supply
The founder of the Binance cryptocurrency exchange, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), owns 64% of the total BNB supply, which amounts to almost 94 million BNB (~$57 billion), Forbes reports. According to the publication, CZ ranks 24th in the list of the richest people in the world with a total fortune of $61 billion. Among crypto billionaires, he is a confident leader, and in second place is the founder of the Bitcoin exchange Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, with a fortune of $11 billion.
Forbes notes that Zhao still owns a 90% stake in Binance, valued at $33 billion, despite his November 2023 resignation. As part of the settlement with the US Department of Justice, the crypto exchange agreed to pay $4.3 billion, while CZ itself will pay only $50 million.
