Trustless Core

OpenGov is currently voting on upgrading Polkadot to runtime 2.2.1. This enables Phase 0 of the launch of the Bulletin Chain, a new system chain for ephemeral storage, used to support Proof-of-Personhood, the Hand-Off Protocol, and other general purpose use cases.

21Shares is launching the first spot Polkadot ETF in the US today.. Fee is 30bps and it looks like it was seeded with $11m. Here's how they describe the coin: "Polkadot is unique as it is designed to connect many independent blockchains into a single, interoperable network where developers can launch their own purpose-built blockchains"

It’s @Polkadot time. We’re excited to launch the 21shares Polkadot ETF, offering investors a liquid way to integrate Polkadot into their portfolios through their banks or brokers. Why we believe Polkadot is interesting in 30 seconds: ▫️Interoperability: One of the only platforms built for blockchain communication, enabling sophisticated interactions across chains. ▫️Developer First: 150+ projects building on Substrate framework (Polkadot SDK) which allows developers to build blockchains tailored to specific needs. ▫️High-performance Scalability: in 2024, the network reached a theoretical maximum of 630,000 transactions per second and currently positions itself as a scalable, future-ready platform. $TDOT is the ticker, Polkadot is the network connector. Now available on select brokerages.

Returning to its roots. The Web3 Foundation is entering a new chapter by narrowing its operational scope and returning to its founding mission of stewarding and accelerating the technologies that enable the decentralized web on a global scale. Read more about it here: medium.com/web3foundation…

The Gavin Effect The Polkadot Treasury had its first positive quarter since the start of OpenGov: 1.6m DOT profit The new Polkadot Treasury report just dropped. It shows the positive effect a voice of reason with the support of big bags has. Thread with ALL THE CHARTS 👇🧵

Ofc we didn't forget! We did, however, run some tests and ensure the infrastructure and tools developers need are live before shouting. So without further ado... Smart Contracts are now live on @Polkadot Hub. If you’re already building with Solidity, the experience will feel familiar. 1⃣EVM for Ethereum compatibility, Solidity, and easy onboarding. 2⃣PVM (PolkaVM) with RISC-V-based architecture for future performance, efficiency, multi-language support, and advanced use cases.

Good to see @Polkadot Elastic Scaling feature in action! 2-second block times got activated today

Kusama Ref 632 - Launch the Kusama Vision Bounties and set initial curators - kusama.subsquare.io/referenda/632

i know polkadot might feel a bit silent right now. but it's actually just a period of INSANE amounts of building stuff - yeah i know a lot of people say this but in my 7+ years at parity i have never seen anything like it. people building products, inspired by the vision, and really taking a critical look at applications people really can use that improve their lives. it's honestly the most exciting thing ive ever worked on in my life - right now - and that's saying something (i was working at a uni when they discovered gravitational waves). this is different though - the amount of careful thought as well as extremely accelerated development at the same time is coalescing into a perfect storm of some of the coolest stuff ever i know it will take some time but please bear with us. we can't roll everything out at once. but we're aiming high. really high. and that - plus the philosophy - user centric but not compromising on either web3 values NOR user experience - is something new, completely new, and something i will be so proud to help bring to the world.

Referendum 1828 on Polkadot is now up for vote. This is a big one - 1. Reduces inflation using the Hard Pressure model from Ref 1710 2. Caps maximum Polkadot issuance at 2.1 billion 3. Solidity Smart Contracts enabled on Hub 4. Block time on Hub reduced from 6 seconds to 2 seconds polkadot.subsquare.io/referenda/1828

1) Yesterday, the @Web3foundation kicked off the Kusama Vision program, breathing life into the Second Age of #Kusama. We brought together an amazing set of 15 curators and 6 advisors who are stepping in to carry the vision forward.

Polkadot Community Call x.com/i/broadcasts/1…

The Web3 Foundation wishes you a happy New Year!🎊

Once again, the year's @polkadot roundup is out. Get it while it's hot 🔥🎄 medium.com/polkadot-netwo…

The Web3 Foundation wishes you a wonderful holiday season. We appreciate the collaboration and progress made together across the ecosystem🎄

Today we are announcing we won't run another cohort of Decentralized Voices. Over its cohorts; DV became a collective-action hack: lowering the coordination barrier for serious participation, creating a focal point where scrutiny and norms could actually form & building countervailing power in #OpenGov by making rationale visible and reputationally consequential. In that sense, DV aimed at robustness, not necessarily popularity: strengthening governance through clearer assumptions, surfaced disagreements & tighter feedback loops. Cohort 5 will be the last one for now and it is not a verdict on the people (you were the point). It’s a capacity shift as we enter a new phase and priorities reallocate. To everyone who participated in the program across all cohorts; thank you so much.. we are proud of you and grateful for all your contributions 🤍 Read announcement here: medium.com/web3foundation…

Decentralized Voices has evolved governance through authentic debate, accountability, and meaningful engagement. While cohort 5 will be the last for now, the lessons and impact will continue. Read more here: medium.com/web3foundation…

We’re launching a new Polkadot website today that’s intentionally laid bare. It sets the foundation for explaining @Polkadot as a product platform, not just a protocol stack. This will expand as the product engineering roadmap rolls out. Start here → polkadot.com

Polkadot’s new website is live. It's a simpler, more human introduction to a complex system. The last decade built the protocol; that work continues. In the decade ahead, the focus shifts to the products and experiences built on top of it. This is v0. It will evolve as products emerge. → polkadot.com