Web3 Daily Brief: dYdX Proposes $12M Ecosystem Grant, Taurus x Lido Partnership, and Ultiverse’s $4M Raise

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The world of Web3 continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with key developments shaping the future of decentralized finance, institutional adoption, and blockchain gaming. In this comprehensive daily update, we explore major announcements—from ecosystem funding initiatives and strategic partnerships to new capital inflows fueling innovation. Whether you're a builder, investor, or enthusiast, these updates offer valuable insights into the forces driving the next phase of the decentralized internet.

dYdX Proposes $12 Million Ecosystem Development Program

Decentralized perpetual exchange dYdX has unveiled a new governance proposal aimed at accelerating its ecosystem growth. The initiative, known as the dYdX Ecosystem Development Program, seeks to allocate up to $12 million worth of DYDX tokens to support developers, projects, and community-driven efforts building on the protocol.

This move marks a strategic pivot from the earlier dYdX Grants Program, now rebranded to emphasize broader ecosystem expansion. The funds will be distributed across various categories including product development, education, analytics tools, and user acquisition campaigns. By incentivizing high-impact contributions, dYdX aims to strengthen its position as a leading player in decentralized derivatives trading.

Governance participation is central to this process—token holders are encouraged to vote on funding allocations, ensuring decentralized decision-making remains intact. With increasing competition in the DeFi derivatives space, such ecosystem investments could prove crucial in attracting top-tier talent and innovative use cases.

👉 Discover how decentralized protocols are fueling innovation through token-backed grants programs.

Avalanche’s Durango Upgrade Activated on Fuji Testnet

The Avalanche network has taken a significant step forward with the successful activation of the Durango upgrade on its Fuji testnet. This upgrade introduces several performance enhancements and lays the groundwork for future mainnet deployment.

Key improvements include optimized consensus mechanics, reduced latency in block finalization, and enhanced subnet interoperability—critical upgrades as Avalanche continues to scale its ecosystem of custom blockchains. Developers can now begin testing applications under real-world conditions ahead of the mainnet rollout.

With subnets becoming a core differentiator for Avalanche, Durango strengthens its value proposition for enterprises and Web3 projects seeking scalable, customizable blockchain environments. The testnet activation signals growing maturity in Avalanche’s upgrade lifecycle and reinforces confidence in its long-term roadmap.

Taurus Partners with Lido to Bring Liquid Staking to Swiss Banks

In a landmark development for institutional crypto adoption, Swiss-based digital asset custody provider Taurus has partnered with Lido, the leading liquid staking protocol, to bring liquid Ethereum staking services to traditional banks in Switzerland.

This collaboration enables regulated financial institutions to offer their clients exposure to staked ETH (stETH) without sacrificing liquidity. Through Taurus’ secure infrastructure and Lido’s decentralized staking solution, banks can now integrate yield-generating crypto products into their portfolios—compliantly and efficiently.

Switzerland’s progressive regulatory environment makes it a natural hub for such innovations. The integration of DeFi primitives like liquid staking into traditional finance underscores a growing trend: the convergence of CeFi and DeFi. As more institutions seek trusted gateways into blockchain-based assets, partnerships like this one will likely become increasingly common.

Binance Web3 Wallet Expands DApp Integration

Binance Web3 Wallet has significantly expanded its ecosystem by integrating 24 new decentralized applications (DApps) across multiple blockchains. These additions span DeFi, NFTs, gaming, and cross-chain tools, enhancing user access to the broader Web3 landscape.

The updated wallet supports seamless interaction with popular platforms such as Aave, PancakeSwap, OpenSea, and others—offering users a unified interface for managing digital assets, swapping tokens, and engaging with DApps directly from their wallet.

This expansion reflects Binance's ongoing commitment to improving user experience and driving mass adoption. As wallet functionality becomes a critical gateway to Web3, ease of use, security, and interoperability remain top priorities.

👉 Explore how next-generation wallets are becoming the front door to Web3 experiences.

Aura Finance Overhauls Tokenomics After Community Vote

The Aura Finance community has approved a major governance proposal focused on optimizing AURA token economics and reducing token emissions. The decision follows extensive discussion around sustainability, long-term value accrual, and alignment with veTokenomics principles.

By adjusting release schedules and introducing mechanisms to better align incentives between liquidity providers and protocol stakeholders, Aura aims to create a more resilient economic model. This shift could enhance capital efficiency within Curve Finance ecosystems where Aura plays a pivotal role in boosting yields.

Such community-led reforms highlight the power of decentralized governance in adapting protocols to changing market dynamics. As DeFi matures, sustainable tokenomics will play an increasingly important role in determining project longevity.

FTX.US Co-Founder Launches Architect with $12M Seed Round

Architect, a new blockchain infrastructure startup founded by Brett Harrison, former president of FTX.US, has secured $12 million in seed funding led by BlockTower Capital and Tioga Capital.

While details about the project remain limited, early signals suggest a focus on developer tools or scalable backend solutions for Web3 applications. Given Harrison’s background in high-performance trading systems, Architect may aim to address latency, reliability, or interoperability challenges facing current blockchain infrastructures.

The involvement of reputable investors indicates strong confidence in the team’s vision. As the demand for robust, enterprise-grade Web3 infrastructure grows, startups like Architect could play a vital role in bridging gaps between traditional tech stacks and decentralized networks.

Ultiverse Raises $4M to Power AI-Driven Web3 Gaming

Web3 gaming platform Ultiverse has raised $4 million in seed funding, led by IDG Capital, with participation from notable firms including Animoca Brands. The platform combines blockchain technology with artificial intelligence to create dynamic, player-owned gaming experiences.

Ultiverse envisions a future where AI generates personalized storylines, adaptive gameplay mechanics, and intelligent non-player characters (NPCs), all while leveraging NFTs for true digital ownership. This fusion of AI and Web3 opens new possibilities for immersive, evolving game worlds that respond uniquely to each player.

With gaming remaining one of the most promising vectors for mass Web3 adoption, projects like Ultiverse are well-positioned to capture attention—not just from crypto natives but also from mainstream gamers seeking deeper engagement and ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the purpose of dYdX’s $12M ecosystem program?
A: The program aims to fund developers and teams building on dYdX by distributing DYDX tokens for product development, community growth, education, and tooling—strengthening its DeFi derivatives ecosystem.

Q: How does Taurus’ partnership with Lido benefit Swiss banks?
A: It allows regulated Swiss financial institutions to offer liquid staking products using stETH, enabling clients to earn staking rewards while maintaining liquidity—bridging DeFi yields with traditional finance.

Q: Why is the Avalanche Durango upgrade important?
A: Durango improves network performance, reduces latency, and enhances subnet interoperability—key upgrades supporting Avalanche’s scalability and enterprise adoption goals.

Q: What types of projects does Ultiverse support?
A: Ultiverse focuses on AI-powered Web3 games where players own assets via NFTs and experience personalized gameplay generated by machine learning models.

Q: Is Binance Web3 Wallet non-custodial?
A: Yes, Binance Web3 Wallet is a non-custodial solution, meaning users retain full control over their private keys and digital assets.

Q: How can I participate in dYdX governance?
A: You can participate by holding DYDX tokens and voting on proposals through the official governance portal—contributing directly to protocol decisions like funding allocations.

Pre-Seed Boost for WATCHES.IO Blockchain Marketplace

Luxury watch trading platform WATCHES.IO has closed a $1.9 million pre-seed round, leveraging blockchain technology to authenticate and tokenize high-end timepieces. The platform enables fractional ownership and secure peer-to-peer transactions of luxury watches—traditionally illiquid assets.

By combining physical asset verification with NFT-based titles, WATCHES.IO introduces transparency and liquidity into a niche but valuable market. This model aligns with broader trends in Real-World Asset (RWA) tokenization, where blockchain unlocks new investment opportunities across art, real estate, and collectibles.

As interest in RWAs grows within DeFi circles, platforms like WATCHES.IO demonstrate how blockchain can solve real-world inefficiencies in asset ownership and transfer.

👉 Learn how real-world assets are being transformed through blockchain tokenization.

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