Blockchain
Ethena Labs and Securitize to launch Converge, a new blockchain for DeFi


- Ethena Labs and Securitize are joining forces to launch Converge, a new blockchain for decentralized finance and tokenized assets.
- Converge will be Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible and serve both retail and institutional DeFi.
- ENA price rose 5% to change hands above $0.38 following the announcement
Ethena Labs and Securitize are teaming up on a venture that will see the crypto projects unveil Converge, a new blockchain built for tokenized assets and decentralized finance.
Announced on Mar. 17, Converge will be a custom-built, Ethereum-compatible blockchain. The developers envision a platform that will cater to both everyday investors and deep-pocketed institutional players.
Per a blog post introducing the new blockchain, the anticipated launch date is Q2 2025.
Ethena, Securitize unveil Converge
According to Ethena Labs, Converge is a blockchain platform designed to bridge the gap between traditional finance and DeFi.
The technology behind the EVM-compatible chain will allow users to leverage user-friendly decentralized applications for retail investors. Converge will also offer a suite of top tools aimed at institutional investors.
Both Ethena Labs and Securitize plan to tap into the new blockchain to advance the DeFi and asset tokenization ecosystem. In this case, the partnership will see Ethena bring its burgeoning DeFi to Converge.
Securitize will also revamp its traction in the real-world asset (RWA) tokenization space. With nearly $2 billion minted, Securitize stands out as one of the top platforms championing the growth of tokenized assets.
Converge’s unveiling will bring an EVM-compatible settlement layer, driving new adoption for stablecoins and tokenized assets.
“We’re developing Converge to fill a clear gap in the market as the go-to settlement layer for institutional-grade DeFi and tokenized assets,” Guy Young, founder of Ethena Labs, said in a statement.
According to Young, “storage and settlement of stablecoins and tokenized assets” is set to be a massive opportunity in the coming years.
Stablecoins, blockchains and exchanges are a “holy trinity of crypto protocols” the Ethena Labs founder posted on X.
Further comments came from Carlos Domingo, the co-founder and CEO of Securitize. He noted:
“By combining Ethena’s innovation in DeFi with Securitize’s leadership in tokenizing real-world assets, Converge sets a new standard for how institutions can confidently engage with on-chain financial markets.”
Converge’s initial launch partners
The two firms will look to advance Converge via key industry collaborations. Helping the cause are initial launch partners, including Pendle, Aave Labs (via its Horizon project), Morpho, Ethereal and Maple Finance.
Converge’s RWA traction will also benefit from custodial support from Anchorage, Copper, Fireblocks and Zodia among other institutional-grade custody providers.
Also key will be interoperability partners LayerZero and Wormhole. Meanwhile, Converge will tap into oracle support from Pyth Network and RedStone.
Furthermore, Converge will use Ethena’s native governance token ENA for staking and security. The latter will tap into a permissioned validator set. The USDe and USTb stablecoins will power network transactions as gas tokens.
The news saw the ENA token jump more than 5% to trade above $0.38.
Blockchain
Reddit’s Cofounder Ohanian Makes Bid For TikTok, Intends To Bring It Onchain

Reddit’s cofounder Alexis Ohanian is keen on acquiring Chinese social media platform TikTok with plans to bring it on-chain. While details of his plan are sparse, Ohanian seeks to use Web 3 to change the concept of social media ownership.
Bringing TikTok Onchain Will Change The Landscape For Creators, Says Reddit Co-founder
Ohanian has formally thrown his hat in the ring to acquire TikTok, joining a laundry list of individuals angling to purchase the social media platform. The Reddit cofounder joins Frank McCourt’s bid for TikTok, serving as a strategic adviser for Project Liberty.
“I’m officially now one of the people trying to buy TikTok US – and bring it on-chain,” wrote the Reddit cofounder.
Ohanian confirmed his interest via X (formerly Twitter) that he is keen on bringing TikTok on-chain after the purchase. For the serial entrepreneur, integrating Web 3 offerings into the app will change the concept of ownership on the embattled platform.
Without disclosing details, it appears that the users of the Ohanian-led TikTok will own their data while creators will own their audience
“We’re setting a new standard for what’s possible in digital communities,” said Ohanian. “A TikTok for the people, by the people. Let’s see if we can pull this off.”
How Will An On-chain TikTok Look Like?
Apart from changing the landscape for ownership, Ohanian’s post did not offer key details about TikTok’s future. However, pundits say the platform could feature on-chain monetization via micropayments in cryptocurrencies. Particularly, one of the assets tapped for the Crypto Strategic Reserve is expected to fill the role.
Another potential perk includes the integration of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) akin to Reddit’s experimentation with digital collectibles.
It is unclear which blockchain Ohanian will lean on in the push to bring TikTok on-chain. There are whispers of centralized Layer 2 blockchains but Reddit’s botched attempt could see a preference for Layer 1 chains.
However, Ohanian and Project Liberty members will have to achieve regulatory compliance in the quest to bring TikTok on-chain. Although the SEC is dismissing crypto lawsuits against exchanges, Ohanian has to proceed with caution.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
Blockchain
Blockchain Forum 2025: Global crypto leaders to meet in Moscow


The countdown is on for the highly anticipated 14th Blockchain Forum, set to take place in the heart of Moscow on April 23-24, 2025.
As the CIS market continues to solidify its global role in the cryptocurrency industry, this year’s forum is expected to attract over 15,000 participants, featuring some of the most influential names in Web3, cryptocurrency, and mining from more than 130 countries.
The last event in Dubai generated significant buzz ahead of the bull run, bringing together industry leaders from Tether, TRON, Ledger, Trust Wallet, Tezos, Binance, TON, OKX, Ripple, Bitmain, Bybit, Animoca Brands, Circle, BingX, ICP, Kraken, Sandbox, Polygon, Litecoin, Sui, BNB Chain, Cardano, DYDX, VeChain, Osmosis, Chiliz, Algorand, Ether Fi, Manta, Mantle, and Delysium.
As always, attendees can look forward to exclusive insights from market leaders, behind-the-scenes discussions, and countless networking opportunities. Founders and top executives from major companies will unveil strategies for capitalizing on current seasonal trends.
Simultaneous translation of all presentations of worldwide stars into English will be provided free of charge.
In addition, industry giants and opinion leaders will converge at the forum, vying for prestigious accolades at the Blockchain Life Awards, which will celebrate its 12th edition this year. This presents a unique opportunity to encounter CEOs of major exchanges and founders of renowned projects just on their way to the main stage, making exclusive connections more accessible than ever. Don’t miss your chance for invaluable networking opportunities!
The presale is in full swing — secure your tickets now, as prices are expected to increase dramatically as the forum date approaches. We’ll see you there.
Enjoy a 10% discount using the promo code COINJOURNAL at https://blockchain.forum/en
Blockchain
Cardano Founder Reveals How Meta, Google, & Apple Can Replace L1 Networks

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has explained how the top tech companies Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon could replace Layer-1 networks. According to him, these companies could easily establish their blockchain infrastructure once they achieve regulatory clarity.
Cardano Founder Reveals How Tech Companies Can Replace L1s
While speaking on an X space, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson explained that tech companies like Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon could become competitors to top Layer-1 projects once the stablecoin bill passes. Hoskinson suggested that these tech companies could move to establish their blockchain infrastructure once there is regulatory clarity in the country.
He gave an example of these companies issuing their stablecoins or partnering with a company like Circle to achieve this. Hoskinson also highlighted Apple’s ‘Apple Pay’ and Google’s ‘Google Pay’ to show how these companies are in a good position to compete with these layer-1 networks.
The Cardano founder also noted that these companies are in a good position to overtake these networks since they already have billions of users and control the operating systems that run on phones. As such, he believes this would be the next wave of competition the crypto space will face.
Hoskinson added that he envisages these companies could go as far as creating their Layer-1 networks. He gave an instance of how Meta already tried to venture into the crypto space in the past but failed due to a lack of clear regulations. As such, there is the possibility that they could make such a move again once Congress passes pending crypto bills.
These Companies Won’t Pass Up The Opportunity
The Cardano founder noted that, based on his sources, the US Congress could pass the stablecoin bill in the next 100 days. He believes that companies like Meta, Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Apple will not pass up the opportunity to expand their operations into the crypto market when the bill passes.
He remarked that there is no way that layer-1 networks could compete with these companies since they have a larger network of users and the necessary licenses to expand their business into the crypto space. Hoskinson also highlighted the fact that these companies could easily block users’ access to these networks in a bid to win them over.
The Cardano founder said believes this is very possible since these companies, with their infrastructure, are already a gateway to accessing these Layer-1 networks. As part of the unfair practices that these companies could adopt, Hoskinson also raised the possibility of them deciding to stop running nodes for these networks, which could alter the operations of these Layer-1s.
Hoskinson also highlighted how these tech companies have the edge over L1s with their confidential computing. On the other hand, these blockchains operate within second-generation trust-execution environments which are less reliable.
Hoskinson’s bold statements come just days after he hinted at a potential partnership with Microsoft. This has sparked a bullish outlook for the ADA price, with projections that the crypto could rally to its current all-time high (ATH) of $3.10.
Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.
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