Facing diminishing returns, ZKsync has decided to discontinue its Ignite DeFi rewards program, effective immediately
ZKsync is pulling the plug on its Ignite DeFi program. The initiative, designed to boost liquidity and user activity on the ZKsync network, will end on March 17, 2025. In an announcement, the team behind the initiative said its DeFi Steering Committee (DSC) has decided to discontinue the program and turn off rewards for period 6.
Why the sudden change? The team pointed to several reasons, primarily its desire to concentrate on its long-term vision of focusing on the Elastic Network. According to the ZKsync Ignite team, the move is about channeling its resources toward accelerating the realization of this goal.
The ZKsync Ignite team is also prioritizing seamless native interoperability across the Elastic Network. They claim the Ignite program was becoming a distraction, and adding more TVL would likely deliver diminishing returns. This suggests that the program wasn’t achieving its intended goals as effectively as hoped.
Related: zkSync (ZK) Price Prediction 2024-2030: Will ZK Price Hit the $2 Level Soon?
Although the initial reasons behind ZKsync Ignite’s decision are internally driven, external factors involving the current market realities play significant roles in bringing the group to its conclusion. ZKsync says it needs to be more conservative in the short to medium term to better adapt to developing market conditions.
ZKsync reassured users that its latest action is in their best interest. According to the announcement, the steps taken align with the program’s original plans, which include adapting to changing market dynamics. All remaining rewards will be distributed on March 17, and all service provider contracts will be concluded by March 30, 2025.
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ADA News: Internal Tensions Escalate as Cardano Leaders Disagree on Budget Strategy
Cardano stands at a critical juncture, with governance evolving from decentralized decision-making toward a structured constitution. A widening divide threatens stability as the ecosystem moves closer to community-led control. Long-standing tensions between the Cardano Foundation and Input Output have escalated amid intense budget negotiations for 2025.
A major flashpoint emerged when the Cardano Foundation proposed a 44% reduction in Input Output’s funding, slashing the allocation from 69.8 million ADA to 38.8 million ADA. The 31 million ADA cut directly affects core development, technical steering, and open-source initiatives, triggering widespread opposition within the community.
Budget discussions, launched in October 2024 under Intersect’s oversight, took a pivotal turn in February 2025 when a draft proposal surfaced. As negotiations extend into May, the unexpected funding reduction has fueled heated debate over network priorities.
The proposed funding reduction has sparked significant concern. Many emphasize the importance of open-source libraries and core protocols as fundamental components of Cardano’s development. A prominent community member expressed strong opposition, stating that the initiative appears to weaken IOG. He said :
To me this proposal looks like CF is trying to undermine IOG. Makes no sense to cut on research and engineering as this is one of our USPs.
Cardano’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, fueled the discussion further by endorsing this viewpoint with a GIF, which said, “This guy gets it.” His reaction encapsulated the growing frustration within the Cardano ecosystem, where fears of stifling innovation and undercutting development efforts have taken center stage.
Beyond online discussions, skepticism has grown regarding the motivations driving the budget cuts. Critics question whether financial necessity dictates the decision or if it signals an attempt to reshape power structures within the ecosystem. Some speculate that heightened scrutiny over the Swiss government’s influence on the Cardano Foundation could be influencing the organization’s assertive stance.
Despite the backlash, the Cardano Foundation insists that the proposed cuts are rooted in financial prudence rather than malice. Governance Lead Nicolas Cerny pushed back against accusations, stating :
There was a call for feedback, which we answered and diligently reviewed all the budget line items of the various proposals. It is my opinion that as an active participant in the governance space on Cardano the CF has an obligation to provide input.
A detailed spreadsheet reveals that the foundation cited issues like item duplication and lack of transparency as justifications for the reductions. However, these explanations have done little to quell the community’s frustration, with many questioning whether slashing development funding aligns with Cardano’s long-term vision.
Cerny encouraged greater adoption of Cardano’s open-source tools, stressing the importance of long-term self-sufficiency. He argued that perpetual reliance on treasury subsidies for development and maintenance raises concerns about sustainability.
Sui secures CODE OF JOKER: EVOLUTIONS launch, expanding blockchain gaming
Parasol, a subsidiary of Mysten Labs and the platform that enables game developers to incorporate blockchain infrastructure into games, said in a Friday press release that CODE OF JOKER: EVOLUTIONS, the SEGA-licensed game by Jokers Incorporated, will be released on the Sui blockchain.
First launched by SEGA Corporation in 2013, the CODE OF JOKER series became extremely popular with trading card game enthusiasts. With the functionality offered by Sui’s ( SUI ) blockchain technology, the new release will make it possible for users to experience true digital ownership, trade freely, and share collections in a decentralized environment. This marks another step towards the convergence of traditional gaming with blockchain technology.
The game will be available on iOS, Android, and Web later this summer 2025.
Sui is a Layer 1 blockchain that is designed to support fast, secure, and scalable transactions. It is optimized for the needs of the gaming infrastructure of the modern era with its parallel execution and object-centric architecture.
Jokers co-founder Takashi Mizuoka said in the press release Sui was “the only blockchain that could” fulfil his vision of living on the blockchain.
“When we initially met with the Parasol team last year, it was clear that they were with us in the conviction that gaming will be at the center of Web3 transformation and the gamer community will be the first to adopt the decentralized economy,” said Evan Cheng, Mysten Labs CEO and Co-Founder. “With its massive library of SEGA Corporation IPs, CODE OF JOKER: EVOLUTIONS is the perfect first marriage of classic gaming IP and blockchain gaming.”
Parasol’s entry into the Sui ecosystem reflects the accelerating trend towards blockchain gaming. Sui’s mainnet is already hosting innovative titles like standalone AAA titles like XOCIETY and Mysten Labs’ upcoming SuiPlay0X1, which is a device that can play Web2 and Web3-powered games.
“Our partnership with CODE OF JOKER: EVOLUTIONS is a passion project by the group that grew up playing classic Japanese gaming,” Parasol CEO Kai Chen said. “Sui is the only blockchain that can provide the technical support our gaming partners require, and we’re grateful to have the backing of Jokers Inc. and Sega for our flagship project. There’s much more to come.”
Giza Protocol Unveiled: Trustless, Context-Aware Infrastructure for DeFi Agents
The Decentralized Finance sector has always promised financial freedom and equal opportunities. Yet today, average users find themselves overwhelmed by endless data, including fluctuating asset prices, variable gas fees , and confusing reward structures. This complex maze often favors technically sophisticated investors, creating significant unfair advantages.
On March 12, the Giza Protocol report stressed that humans struggle to process the sheer volume of information effectively, creating clear benefits for institutional and highly technical investors. Such disparities directly contradict DeFi’s foundational vision of open and fair financial participation.
Giza’s research shows that human cognitive limits create an unlevel playing field, harming regular individuals’ opportunities in DeFi ecosystems. To counteract that, Giza introduces autonomous financial agents—smart digital assistants capable of constant data tracking and real-time strategic decisions without tiring or errors common among humans.
Autonomous agents aren’t exactly new, but previously developed models encountered major setbacks. They either relied heavily on centralized control, sacrificing users’ security, or were so decentralized that effectiveness suffered significantly. Developers had to settle for these problematic compromises, hindering truly effective financial automation.
Giza Protocol challenges these traditional limitations, offering the decentralized framework needed for autonomous agents to operate smoothly, safely, and effectively. They have designed a special architecture addressing three crucial needs: non-custodial control ensuring asset security, decentralized yet reliable execution, and seamless interoperability among various financial protocols.
What sets Giza apart is its use of advanced machine learning secured by zero-knowledge cryptography. This combination enables trustless and transparent financial computations directly on the blockchain. The outcome is more reliable and versatile smart contracts, giving users equal access to sophisticated financial strategies previously reserved only for institutional investors.
The innovative Giza Protocol architecture uniquely combines three distinct layers, each solving a different piece of the DeFi puzzle. At the core, the Semantic Abstraction Layer connects AI logic with blockchain technology. Instead of complicated technicalities, AI agents speak the straightforward language of finance, boosting decision-making clarity while maintaining security.
Supporting seamless agent execution, the Decentralized Execution Layer ensures transactions run efficiently and safely. A structured network of nodes—Entrypoint Nodes distributing tasks, Performer Nodes executing, Attester Nodes validating, and Aggregator Nodes finalizing consensus—ensures complete decentralization without sacrificing performance or security.
Agent Authorization forms the third layer, enabling granular, non-custodial control. Users can safely delegate specific tasks without risking their entire portfolio, setting precise boundaries like transaction limits or restricting certain asset interactions. Giza incorporates EigenLayer’s Actively Validated Services (AVS) to ensure that every transaction meets strict security standards, reducing fraud and malicious activities.
82.8 Billion Pi Under Core Team Control—Is Pi Network Truly Decentralized?
Pi Network, a mobile-based cryptocurrency mining platform, is facing mounting criticism over its centralization. Fresh data from PiScan reveals that the core team holds an overwhelming 82.8 billion Pi Coins, making up 82% of the total 100 billion supply. With so much of the network’s wealth in the hands of a few, concerns about true decentralization are growing.
At the heart of the issue is the concentration of these holdings. The Pi Network core team directly controls 62.8 billion Pi Coins across six wallets. An additional 20 billion PI is spread across 10,000 unlisted wallets also linked to the team. That puts nearly the entire supply under internal control, leaving users wondering whether this system is as decentralized as promised.
The problem doesn’t stop at coin distribution. Pi Network currently operates with only 43 nodes and three validators globally. Compared to giants like Bitcoin, which boasts over 21,000 nodes, or Ethereum, which runs on more than 6,600 nodes, Pi Network’s infrastructure looks worryingly centralized. Solana is another example, with approximately 4,800 nodes, yet Pi Network falls far behind.
Beyond the concentration of holdings and network control, transparency is another key concern. Analysts have found it difficult to examine Pi Network’s source code and on-chain data because the project remains largely closed. A post by PiScan on X made that clear, stating :
Analyzing Pi Network’s source code and on-chain data is currently challenging due to its incomplete openness.
Transparency is a cornerstone of any decentralized project, and without it, trust in the network remains shaky. The lack of openness around its operations has only fueled further debate.
Adding to the unease, Pi Network has quietly introduced ChatGPT into its Know Your Customer (KYC) verification process. This change was slipped into the 2025 privacy policy update without prior mention in earlier versions. The updated document states :
We use ChatGPT, as a trusted AI partner, to automate identity verification and enhance security measures. By using our KYC services, users consent to the use of ChatGPT, and other AI providers that may be later implemented, as part of our KYC process.
The involvement of artificial intelligence in identity verification raises questions about user privacy and third-party involvement. With increasing concerns over how AI handles sensitive personal data, many users are left wondering whether their information is truly secure.
Dissatisfaction within the Pi Network community has been growing. Many users have voiced their frustration over the long lockup periods and technical difficulties experienced during the mainnet migration. Unable to access their tokens freely, some have even resorted to selling their accounts.
That frustration is reflected in the sharp decline in search interest for “Pi Network.” According to Google Trends, interest in the platform peaked at 100 on February 20, the day of the mainnet launch . Since then, it has plunged to just 12, marking a steep drop in public enthusiasm.
While early adopters once believed in the vision of a decentralized, mobile-friendly cryptocurrency, recent revelations have cast doubt on the Pi Network’s direction. Most of the supply is controlled by the core team, a small number of validators running the network, and a lack of transparency in governance.