• Specs News
  • Posts
  • 2/12/25: Uniswap's New Chain 🦄🤪🏛️

2/12/25: Uniswap's New Chain 🦄🤪🏛️

Today’s issue is brought to you by Safe — the world’s leading smart account provider on EVM, securing $100B+ in assets (including Vitalik’s).

Top News

  1. Uniswap launches Unichain, a DeFi-optimized Layer-2

  2. Hester Peirce says SEC lacks authority over most memecoins

  3. Brian Quintenz, pro-crypto a16z exec, to lead CFTC

Specs’ Insights

1. Uniswap launches Unichain, a DeFi-optimized Layer-2

⌐◪-◪ → A new Unicorn is born!

Just two weeks after launching Uniswap v4, Uniswap has unveiled Unichain, a new Ethereum Layer-2 designed specifically for DeFi.

Unichain launches as a Stage 1 rollup with 1-second block times and 95% lower gas fees, but this is just the beginning. Over the coming months, Uniswap plans to push blockchain scaling even further with:

  • Flashblocks (built with Flashbots) to cut block times to 0.25s and redistribute MEV back to users.

  • Seamless L2 interoperability, leveraging Uniswap’s work on intents and its partnership with Optimism.

  • Unichain Validation Network (UVN) to decentralize the sequencer and add staking-based security.

In just four months of testnet, Unichain already processed 100M+ transactions, and 80+ projects are live at launch—including Uniswap v2, v3, and v4.

While some are skeptical about yet another L2, Uniswap’s track record speaks for itself. If they pull this off, Unichain could become the go-to DeFi chain.

2. Hester Peirce says SEC lacks authority over most memecoins

⌐◪-◪ → You have no power here!

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce just signaled that most memecoins—including Trump’s—likely don’t fall under the SEC’s jurisdiction.

This opens the door for a broader debate on where memecoins fit into the regulatory landscape. Some lawmakers are already discussing them as “fecal coins” (lol), while others suggest that the CFTC (not the SEC) may be the agency to step in.

Meanwhile, Jason Calacanis is calling to "ban these stupid f*cking memecoins,” proving that the tradfi crowd still doesn't get it.

For now, it looks like stablecoins are the first regulatory target, but memecoins won’t be far behind â€” congress is already discussing “fecal coins”. 

3. Brian Quintenz, pro-crypto a16z exec, to lead CFTC

⌐◪-◪ → We have a new CFTC chair!

President Trump is expected to nominate Brian Quintenz as the next CFTC chair, according to multiple reports.

Quintenz, who currently leads crypto policy at a16z, previously served as a Republican CFTC commissioner from 2017 to 2021 and has long been one of the strongest pro-crypto voices in DC.

He’s often compared to Hester Peirce (aka "Crypto Mom"), but now we’ve got a "Crypto Dad" in the mix.

A huge win for crypto regulation—give him a follow on X.

Everything Else

⛓️ Crypto & DeFi

  • LinksDAO to launch community token on Base

  • Fireblocks adds support for Sony’s Soneium blockchain

  • World Liberty forming token reserve to bolster Bitcoin stability

  • Szabo revisits micropayments 25 years later

  • World Liberty and Ondo Finance partner to expand tokenized RWA adoption

  • TON Blockchain to use LayerZero for improved cross-chain functionality

  • Stablecoins are key to AI-driven financial automation, says Sky Protocol

  • Lido unveils V3 with customizable staking strategies

  • Plume Network picked by Superstate to power multichain expansion

  • Satoshi Nakamoto documentary to be released

  • Pi Network to launch open network on February 20

  • Circle mints another $205M USDC stablecoins

  • Santiago Santos, CryptoPunk, is building his own chain focused on G2M

  • Jason Calacanis calls to “ban these stupid fucking memecoins”

🏦 Wall Street & VC

  • Goldman Sachs boosts Bitcoin ETF holdings to $1.5B

  • BitGo plans to go public as early as Q2 2025

  • Sol Strategies tapped for 3iQ’s Solana staking ETF

  • Mirai Labs raises $4M for Web3 development

  • Fold launches Bitcoin rewards credit card

  • KULR expands BTC holdings to 610 BTC, reports 167% BTC yield

  • BitGo eyes IPO in 2025 amid crypto market revival

  • Bitcoin price could reach $1.5M by 2030, says Cathie Wood

🏛️ Legal & Regulatory

🌎 Rest Of The World

  • Crypto.com obtains new MiCA license to service European customers

  • Bank of England boss calls for 'high bar' for stablecoin regulations

  • Gumi, Japanese game Dev, reveals plans to buy and stake Bitcoin

  • Portuguese residency fund launches linking crypto investment to residency

  • Binance clarifies no asset sales amid treasury accounting rumors

🖼️ NFTs & Metaverse

  • Sam Spratt launches epic trailer for The Masquarade

  • Elon Musk changes X username to Harry Bolz, memecoins soar

  • David Portnoy donates $100k in $JAILSTOOL memecoin

  • Adin Ross says he “does not fuck with” Frank DeGods

  • Parallel Avatars up 69% in the past day ahead of Wayfinder airdrop

  • MegaETH day 1 mint ends, FCFS round opens at 12pm ET today

Join Our Community!

Designed to make you a better crypto investor, builder, and operator.

💬 Chat with Valko and other experts
📚 Access additional hand-curated resources
😊 Make friends, share memes, have fun