Ethereum's Busy Network and Other Crypto Updates

Ethereum is having a moment. It's processing more transactions than ever before, with over 2. 8 million transactions in a single week. This is a big deal because it shows the network is handling more activity without skyrocketing fees. The staking exit queue has also dropped to zero, meaning people can withdraw their staked ETH quickly. This suggests a steady interest in staking, not a rush to exit. Meanwhile, crypto neobanks are gaining traction. These platforms are focusing on everyday financial services like payments, savings, and borrowing, using stablecoins. This shift highlights a move towards making crypto more accessible and user-friendly. Projects like ether. fi and Polygon are leading the way, building on top of decentralized finance (DeFi) to offer these services. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum's co-founder, has proposed a new staking method called Distributed Validator Technology (DVT). This aims to make staking more resilient and less complex for large ETH holders. DVT allows validators to operate across multiple machines, reducing the risk of penalties and making the process more secure.Solayer has launched a $35 million fund to support projects building on its infiniSVM network. This network is designed for real-time execution and fast settlement, aiming to replace the batch processing used by most blockchains. Solayer's chief product officer, Joshua Sum, emphasized the importance of immediate settlement and low latency. In other news, Galaxy Digital is planning a $100 million hedge fund to profit from the volatility in digital assets and fintech. The fund will take both long and short positions, targeting crypto tokens and financial services stocks affected by digital asset technologies and regulations. Interestingly, while crypto losses are rising, onchain security is improving. Most hacks in 2025 were due to operational failures, like compromised devices or manipulated employees, rather than flaws in the blockchain code itself. This suggests that while criminals are getting more sophisticated, the underlying technology is becoming more secure. Coinbase, one of the largest crypto exchanges, withdrew its support for a major digital assets bill just before a key hearing. This decision highlighted concerns about consumer protection and market competition, leading to the cancellation of the hearing and renewed negotiations.