Arbitrum: The Evolution of a Veteran L2

In the Ethereum L2 ecosystem, Arbitrum has always been a highly关注ed project. While some may think it is outdated, in fact, Arbitrum has been continuously working to optimize the network and develop its ecosystem, which stands in stark contrast to some ephemeral projects.

According to reports, Arbitrum may have a series of significant moves in 2025. For forward-looking investors, now might be a good time to position themselves. Here are two important trends to pay attention to:

1. The mainnet implements the BoLD protocol to enhance decentralization.

Recently, the BoLD protocol was officially activated on the Arbitrum One and Nova chains. This protocol allows for "permissionless validation" on its Layer 2 ecosystem, thereby enhancing the decentralization and security of the network.

Compared to the previous permission-based verification process, the BoLD protocol introduces an interactive, time-limited dispute resolution mechanism. This improvement not only simplifies the process but also reduces the risk of delay attacks. More importantly, it opens up opportunities for participation to anyone interested in network security.

This upgrade has made significant progress for Arbitrum in the decentralization process, making it the project closest to the Stage 2 decentralization goal among all Ethereum L2 chains.

2. Layout the AI track and build the "DeFAI ecosystem"

With the rapid development of the global AI industry, the combination of AI and cryptocurrency has become the focus of attention in the industry. The Arbitrum team has keenly captured this trend and has begun to actively layout the AI ecosystem.

Recently, Arbitrum launched the Trailblazer program with a total of $1 million, specifically to support developers who are developing AI projects on its network. In addition, the official team has organized multiple AI-themed discussions and compiled a collection of AI projects within the Arbitrum ecosystem, demonstrating their commitment to building a "DeFAI ecosystem."

It is worth noting that the officially recognized AI projects that have not yet issued tokens include Axal, Capx, Aikaverse, Lit, Spheron, and Skynet. Among them, Spheron is conducting a whitelist activity, while CapX has launched an incentivized testnet. Skynet may also soon launch a similar test network.

With the advancement of these initiatives, Arbitrum is gradually consolidating its position in the L2 ecosystem and actively exploring new directions for development. For investors and developers interested in the development of blockchain technology, these trends from Arbitrum are undoubtedly worth continuous attention.