Ethereum Considers New ETH 3.0 "Beam Chain" Upgrade

Ethereum researcher Justin Drake presented the "Beam Chain" proposal at Devcon, introducing features for faster block times, reduced validator stakes, and potential post-quantum security. The proposal, called by some as "ETH 3.0" is part of Ethereum’s ongoing evolution and could cut slot times to four seconds, eliminating epochs and increasing network efficiency plus user onboarding.

Key components include a 1 ETH minimum stake (reduced from 32 ETH) and native zkEVM, which would allow for scalable transaction verification. If implemented, Beam Chain could reduce the need for Layer 2 chains by working directly on Ethereum’s mainnet expandability.

While the proposal addresses past challenges with Ethereum's Beacon Chain, Drake emphasized that community consensus is essential. Testing may begin by 2027, setting the stage for Ethereum’s next major era post-Merge and Dencun.

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Trump Appoints Musk and Vivek for D.O.G.E. Agency

President-elect Trump appointed Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency. The agency, playfully abbreviated as D.O.G.E., will focus on cutting bureaucracy, reforming agencies, and reducing waste. Musk emphasized transparency, promising to post updates online and inviting public input on spending cuts.

Dogecoin reacted strongly, jumping over 100% in the past week following Musk’s appointment. Other meme coins also saw substantial gains as Musk’s and Trump’s influence buoyed market interest. The D.O.G.E. agency is set to complete its work by July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

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Unichain’s Early RPC Access Cut Off After Leak to Permissions

Unichain's development team disabled its public RPC after access details circulated, allowing some users to bridge assets before the chain goes live. The Layer 2 network for Uniswap, initially intended for limited developer access, faced criticism as users are now unsure how to withdraw funds with the RPC offline. Without an active RPC, users face challenges in bridging back to Ethereum’s mainnet.

Introduced by Uniswap, Unichain aims for fast block times and cross-chain interoperability, appealing to the memecoin trading space. The team clarified that public access details would be shared soon, though users voiced frustration over the RPC’s abrupt removal. Critics noted that frontrunning of Layer 2 networks is common, yet few teams opt to disable RPC access as Unichain did.

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Italy Lowers Proposed Crypto Tax from 42% to 28%

Italy has reportedly revised its proposed crypto gains tax increase from 42% to a more moderate 28%, responding to feedback within the government. The League, a coalition member, proposed the softer increase, alongside measures to improve crypto education for investors. Italy’s existing tax rate on crypto gains above €2,000 remains at 26%.

The amendment follows earlier proposals to tax Bitcoin and crypto at 42%, part of broader tax adjustments in Italy’s 2025 budget. Lawmakers are also discussing creating a permanent advisory group on crypto. Before final approval, Italian lawmakers will review and potentially revise the tax rate, signaling a more progressive regulatory approach to crypto.

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Data of the Day

Coinbase introduced COIN50, an index tracking the top 50 digital assets listed on its exchange, weighted by market cap and designed as a new benchmark for traders.

The Coinbase index is tradable as a perpetual futures contract with up to 20x leverage, targeting institutional and advanced retail users outside the US, UK, and Canada. Assets include BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, and DOGE, representing 88.8% of the index's value, with another 45 coins adding to the other 11.2%.

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More Breaking News

• PayPal's PYUSD now uses LayerZero for fast, cost-effective stablecoin transfers between Ethereum and Solana amid a reduced supply on Solana.
• Canary Capital filed for the first US Hedera spot ETF, aiming to hold HBAR directly and capitalize on Hedera's decentralized public network.
• US spot Ethereum ETFs saw a record $295.5 million inflow Monday, bringing total assets to $9.43 billion, while Bitcoin ETFs added $1.1 billion.
• Germany sold 50,000 bitcoins in July, missing a potential $1.6 billion gain as Bitcoin reached new highs after the US election.
• Sam Altman-backed World (formerly Worldcoin) launched its human verification program in Brazil, expanding to a crypto-friendly population of over 215 million.
• ZERO Network launched on Ethereum Layer 2, allowing Zerion Wallet users to transact without gas fees through Smart Accounts and Paymasters.
• Bitget reactivated its UK platform with full FCA compliance, secured through Archax's financial promotions approval.

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