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Security Matters: How’s Zircuit Planning to Mitigate Hacks in Web3 (Interview)

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In the rapidly evolving landscape of Layer 2 networks, Zircuit aims to create a new approach to security and scalability. Co-founded by Martin Derka, a seasoned professional with a PhD in algorithms and complexity, sat with us for an interview during EthCC. Derka shared insights into his journey, the founding of Zircuit including the meaning of the whooping $3 billion staked ETH to the project, and above all – the expected launch date for Zircuit’s mainnet.

Multiple well-known investors have taken part in the protocol’s mainnet funding round, including Binance Labs, Nomad Capital, AMBER, and much more.

zircuit_ceo_cover

From Soccer to Crypto

Martin Derka’s journey into the world of crypto began after an unexpected turn in his career. “I have a PhD in algorithms and complexity,” Derka explained, detailing his academic background. “For many years, I was developing software for various companies while still a student.” His transition from academia to entrepreneurship was marked by a stint as CTO of a startup focused on car advertisement photography, which he co-founded in 2013. However, after internal disputes led to his departure in 2017, Derka sought new opportunities, eventually finding his way to the crypto sphere.

“After leaving the startup, I went to clear my head in Argentina and Chile,” Derka recounted. “Upon returning to Canada, I connected with Leo (Leonardo Passos, Ph.D), a former soccer buddy and one of the veteran employees of the crypto auditing giant Quantstamp.” This serendipitous meeting led to Derka joining Quantstamp as one of its earliest hires in 2018, where he delved deep into crypto security.

The Birth of Zircuit

Derka’s tenure at Quantstamp laid the groundwork for Zircuit. “At Quantstamp, we knew rollups would be key to scaling Ethereum,” Derka noted. This realization sparked intensive research into rollups, eventually leading to the inception of Zircuit. “We saw an amazing opportunity to enhance blockchain security proactively,” Derka said. “This is how the feature that now distinguishes Zircuit—sequencer level security—began.”

‘Many Uses of AI Seem Fabricated’

Zircuit’s most striking feature is its AI-driven security mechanism, sequencer-level security, a concept Derka elaborated on extensively.

“Our sequencer evaluates each transaction for malicious intent before inclusion in the block,” Derka explained. “We use AI to simulate transactions and assess their impact, determining if they’re hacks.” This proactive approach allows Zircuit to quarantine potentially harmful transactions, enhancing the overall security of the blockchain.

The sequencer is a privileged node designed to collect user transactions and order them based on predefined rules. In essence, once the transaction arrives at the sequencer, it is then routed to the “Malice Detection” module – something that the team refers to as the “oracle.” It’s designed to determine whether a transaction is benign or it can potentially be malicious. Those that are benign are queued for block inclusion, while those that are flagged are diverted to another module called “Quarantine-Release Criterion” module. It acts as a holding area for the time during which these transactions undergo a rigorous verification process.

The following can be seen in the overview presented by Zircuit:

zircuit_schema

When asked about the prevalent AI hype, Derka acknowledged the phenomenon but remained pragmatic. “There is a huge level of hype,” he admitted. “Many uses of AI seem fabricated, and AI can be highly inaccurate. But failure is part of innovation. If we don’t try applying AI in all possible areas, we might miss its true potential.”

L2’s: Do We Really Need That Many

Zircuit positions itself as a Layer 2 (L2) solution with a strong emphasis on security, amidst a crowded field of competitors. Derka was clear about the inevitability of multiple L2 solutions. “If we didn’t build another L2, someone else would,” he said. “The better question is why users should choose Zircuit over others, and that comes down to our unique security proposition.”

Despite the competitive market, Derka does not foresee a winner-takes-all scenario.

“Technologists love to build and compete,” he asserted. “There will always be new players challenging the status quo.”

Zircuit: When Mainnet Launch

Zircuit’s immediate focus is on launching its Mainnet, with significant milestones already achieved. “We launched our Testnet last year, which has been very stable,” Derka shared. “We are now in the process of deploying Mainnet, integrating partners, and ensuring security measures are in place.”

The Mainnet Phase 1 launch is scheduled for Augustmid-July in a gated mode, with a broader public launch expected soon afterin mid-August. “We are also working on optimizing zero-knowledge proof generation to reduce operating costs and improve efficiency,” Derka added. This technical enhancement is crucial for the blockchain’s functionality and user experience.

Over $3 Billion in Staked ETH

Derka is mindful of the challenges in sustaining Zircuit’s initial success: With over $3 billion in restaked Ether (at its peak) signaling strong interest, the true test will be retaining these funds post-launch. “It’s the best signal we currently have, but it’s not a guarantee of success,” Derka cautioned. “Our task is to support projects deploying on Zircuit, ensuring they attract and retain capital.”

Zircuit aims to create a robust ecosystem encompassing all essential blockchain functions. “We want a fully functional ecosystem comparable to other chains, with lending protocols, oracles, DEXs, and stablecoins,” Derka explained. The security aspect remains a key differentiator, offering users and developers a more secure environment for their projects.

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Cryptocurrency

Bitcoin Price Analysis: Is New ATH Next for BTC After Surging Past $100K?

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Bitcoin has just broken above the $100K psychological level for the first time in months, and the momentum has shifted clearly in favor of the buyers.

With the price climbing sharply and on-chain metrics aligning, the current leg suggests bullish continuation, but there are still some key levels to monitor.

Technical Analysis

The Daily Chart

On the daily timeframe, BTC has pushed through the $100K resistance level and is now hovering around the $103K mark. This breakout came after a clean reclaim of both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages and a retest of the ascending trendline that’s been respected over the last months.

Moreover, the RSI is firmly in overbought territory, currently above 75, indicating strong bullish momentum, although it also warns of a possible short-term cooldown. If the breakout is sustained, the next visible resistance level will be around $108K, while the $99K zone will now act as a new key support.

The 4-Hour Chart

Investigating the 4H-chart, we can see the breakout from a rising wedge that had been forming for over a week. Price first broke above the $97K–$98K range, and exploded toward the $103K area.

Momentum indicators like RSI confirm strength, although we now see early signs of short-term exhaustion. This suggests a possible retest of the breakout zone around $100K or even $98K before continuation. Yet, as of now, the overall structure favors further upside unless the $96K–$97K zone fails to hold.

Onchain Analysis

Exchange Reserve

From an on-chain perspective, exchange reserves continue to plunge, making a new multi-year low. This ongoing decline reinforces the long-term bullish thesis: less BTC available on exchanges typically reflects accumulation behavior and reduced selling pressure.

It also suggests that long-term holders are not eager to offload their coins even at these high levels. The macro trend of shrinking exchange balances supports the current breakout and adds confidence to the sustainability of the rally, even if we get short-term pullbacks.

 

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Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoPotato is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoPotato on whether to buy, sell, or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk. See Disclaimer for more information.

Cryptocurrency charts by TradingView.

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Bitcoin Bull Score Jumps to 80 as Spot Demand Fuels Optimism

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After months of price malaise, Bitcoin (BTC) is roaring back, having climbed past $103,000 today and signaling a shift in market sentiment.

According to CryptoQuant, the catalyst is a massive surge in spot demand, which has propelled Bitcoin’s Bull Score Index from a bearish 20 to a blazing 80, indicating one of the most bullish readings in over a year.

Market Sentiment Shift

The index comprises ten key on-chain metrics, including liquidity, network activity, and market inflows. Historically, flows above 60 have been associated with sustained rallies, while those below 40 have often signaled bear markets.

As recently as April 7, data from CryptoQuant shows Bitcoin’s Bull Score was languishing at 10, with prices struggling below $80,000. However, a steady climb in spot demand, fueled by ETF inflows and institutional interest, revitalized the market.

By April 26, the score had hit 40 as BTC reclaimed the $94,000 level, and this week’s jump to 80 comes alongside the crypto asset smashing through $100,000 for the first time since February.

Supporting this thesis, analytics firm Santiment recently reported that more than 344,000 new wallets had been created on the Bitcoin network over the past week, as retail FOMO kicked in. Such growth has often been witnessed during previous cycle tops, suggesting a wider demographic is now buying into BTC.

CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju acknowledged the importance of the shift, posting on X earlier today:

“Two months ago, I said the bull cycle was over, but I was wrong… selling pressure is easing, and massive inflows are coming through ETFs.”

Ju noted that traditional sell-pressure triggers, like whale dumps, are now being offset by institutional demand. The relentless acquisition of Bitcoin by corporations like Strategy, spot ETFs, and even government interest, including the signing off on a national Bitcoin Strategic Reserve by U.S. President Donald Trump, has introduced unprecedented liquidity, making past cycle models less reliable.

“It’s time to throw out that cycle theory,” said the analyst. “The market is merging with TradFi, and institutional liquidity is overpowering traditional sell-off patterns.”

A Rally From April Lows

Meanwhile, price action tells its own story. Bitcoin is currently trading at $103,260, up some 3.5% in the last 24 hours. The asset has also rallied 33.7% over the past 30 days, while year-on-year, it’s increased almost 70%.

However, despite the impressive rebound, BTC still sits 5.2% below its all-time high of roughly $109,000 from earlier in the year.

Furthermore, Bitcoin’s 6.6% uptick across the week means that despite dominating altcoins with a 60.5% share of the sector, its performance lags slightly behind the broader crypto market, which grew 8.8% in the last week.

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Orderly Announces Retroactive 2.3M $esORDER Available to Claim for Solana Traders

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[PRESS RELEASE – Singapore, Republic of Singapore, May 9th, 2025]

Web3 liquidity layer Orderly has announced retroactive escrowed $ORDER tokens for Solana users. Traders who have used any Orderly-powered DEX on Solana will automatically earn the retrospective trading rewards, with more than 2.3M $esORDER (escrowed $ORDER) available to claim.

Traders who used any Orderly-powered DEX on Solana who visit Orderly’s Trading Rewards page can connect their wallet and claim their retroactive rewards. After claiming their share of 2.3M $esORDER, Solana users can elect to stake their tokens to participate in the $ORDER staking program or vest their $esORDER and convert it to $ORDER at a later date.

The retroactive $esORDER incentive has been accompanied by the launch of Orderly’s staking program on Solana. This allows Solana users to stake Orderly’s native token and receive trading rewards for fees accrued across its omnichain liquidity layer. The introduction of $ORDER staking on Solana allows network users to utilize their tokens to earn yield while supporting the growth of Orderly’s cross-chain trading infrastructure.

Orderly’s decision to launch its popular staking program on Solana follows the integration of its shared order book on the network earlier this year. This has allowed Solana traders and trading protocols to gain access to deep liquidity procured from across the omnichain landscape, including EVM networks. Orderly’s liquidity layer is now powering leading Solana DEXs, including Raydium.

Orderly CEO Ran Yi said, “Bit by bit, we’re breaking down the barriers that separate Solana from the Ethereum ecosystem. First by bringing our cross-chain orderbook to Solana, and now by following suit with $esORDER rewards to Orderly traders and the launch of $ORDER staking. This means that Solana users can now capture the upside to Orderly’s growing trading volume, both on their own chain and on the long tail of EVM networks that Orderly supports.”

The $ORDER staking program, which redirects 60% of all Orderly fees to holders who stake the native token, has proven extremely popular since its inception. More than 4,200 active stakers currently share in a portion of the more than $10M in fees that have been generated to date.

Through staking their tokens on Solana, $ORDER holders can earn a pro rata share of protocol fees generated not just on Solana but across all of the networks Orderly supports. Solana users who participate in the program will be eligible for a share of the same rewards pool currently open to EVM stakers while benefiting from Solana’s low fee environment.

The introduction of $ORDER staking on Solana reinforces Orderly’s commitment to building within the Solana ecosystem. Through supplying the liquidity for decentralized exchanges to offer superior pricing, Orderly aims to become the network’s preeminent DeFi solution for unified liquidity.

Solana users can now stake their native $ORDER tokens at https://app.orderly.network/staking, while $esORDER rewards will continue to be distributed to Solana traders using Orderly DEXs on a fortnightly basis.

About Orderly

Orderly is the infrastructure that lets people trade anything, anywhere via a permissionless liquidity layer that delivers deep, unified liquidity across all blockchains through a single orderbook. Orderly ensures robust liquidity across major chains such as Solana, Sonic, Arbitrum, Base, Mantle, Ethereum Mainnet, OP, and Polygon, and grants traders and exchanges access to over 100 markets through their unified trading infrastructure.

Learn more: https://orderly.network/

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