Ethereum network transaction volume hits record high
The Ethereum network has set a new transaction volume record, while simultaneously reducing fees to a historic low. The average weekly transaction volume approached 2.5 million per day—double the level of a year ago. On-chain activity began to increase in mid-December after a prolonged decline.
Despite the increased load, the average gas fee fell to $0.15, and according to Etherscan, token swaps cost only $0.03. These improvements were made possible by recent updates: the Fusaka hard fork and the Blob Parameter-Only fork activated on January 7th increased the BLOB data limit from 15 to 21, increasing network scalability. Stablecoins continue to drive demand.
Bitcoin hash rate drops 15%
The Bitcoin network hashrate has fallen below the symbolic 1,000 EH/s mark for the first time since September, according to Hashrate Index data. Over the past 24 hours, the figure has fallen from 1,002 EH/s to 992 EH/s—the lowest since the fall. Since mid-October, when computing power peaked at 1,157 EH/s, it has fallen by 15%. Despite the decline in the hashrate, mining is becoming slightly easier—the difficulty continues to decrease, reducing the amount of computation required to find a block.
At the same time, the hashrate is rising: from $37.15 to $40 per PH/s per day. This temporarily improves miners' profitability. However, the industry is undergoing tectonic shifts: as StandardHash founder Leon Liu noted, more and more miners are shifting their focus to AI tasks, striving for higher profits. According to TheMinerMag, the industry is experiencing a profound crisis: even large players with efficient equipment and affordable electricity are teetering on the brink of profitability.
Boundless unveils Bitcoin settlement and verification mechanism for Ethereum and Base
The Boundless team, working on a ZK infrastructure based on RISC Zero, has presented a new way to integrate Bitcoin into the verification of resource-intensive zero-knowledge proofs. This development paves the way for the use of Bitcoin as a computation and verification layer.
Initially, the technology will integrate the Ethereum mainnet and Base's L2 solution with Bitcoin, giving smart contract platforms access to the security layer of the decentralized network itself. Bitcoin will also serve as the final link in the verification of ZK proofs, capable of handling complex computations in a multi-chain environment.
Nansen launches AI-powered trading on Solana and Base networks
The Nansen analytics platform has integrated a built-in AI trading tool into the web and mobile versions of its app. The first supported networks are Solana and Base. This new feature eliminates the need to switch between services, allowing users to analyze the market and execute trades in a single interface. The solution is based on the Vibe Trading concept: crypto portfolio management is available via chat directly in the browser or on a smartphone.
The AI suggests trades based on on-chain data analysis but does not access funds—each action requires user approval. The Solana network uses the Jupiter aggregator, Base uses OKX DEX, and cross-chain transactions are facilitated through LI.FI. All transactions are processed through the non-custodial Nansen Wallet, powered by Privy.
Solo Bitcoin miner earns $289,191
On January 20, a solo miner mined block #933,034 on the Bitcoin network and earned 3,131 BTC (approximately $289,191), including $562 in fees for 1,129 transactions. He rented mining power through NiceHash, spending only $90. His hashrate information is not disclosed. Five days earlier, another solo miner mined block #932,373, earning $304,814. His block contained 2,581 transactions, earning a fee of 0.032 BTC ($3,058). He also used NiceHash hardware.
The Winklevoss brothers donated over $1 million to ZEC developers
Shielded Labs, a nonprofit organization supporting the development of Zcash, has received a donation of 3,221 ZEC (approximately $1.16 million) from the Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron. The funds will be used to develop key components of the privacy cryptocurrency protocol.
Shielded Labs operates independently from the core Zcash team and does not receive mining rewards. Its activities are focused on scientific and engineering research rather than commercial development. Zcash founder Zooko Wilcox is a member of the organization.
The funding will go toward long-term projects, including the Network Sustainability Mechanism, Crosslink, and Dynamic Fees, which are aimed at improving the network's security, scalability, and resilience.
