This article was first published on The Bit Journal: After completing the final testnet, Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade heads to Mainnet launch —will it deliver the security and scalability improvements?

The Ethereum Foundation successfully carried out the final dress rehearsal for the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade last Tuesday and is now preparing for the Fusaka hard fork Mainnet launch. If the upgrade is successful, the hard fork is expected to enhance network scalability and integration stability significantly.

Streamline Data Sampling and Verification

According to an X social media post by Stokes, the final testnet went live around 18:53 UTC on the Hoodi testnet and involved passing several code changes designed to make the Ethereum blockchain more scalable and cost-efficient. Following the passing of the final test, the blockchain is now preparing for the Fusaka hard fork Mainnet activation in early December.

A testnet is a replica of a blockchain’s leading network that allows developers to test major upgrades and address emerging issues before going live on Mainnet.

Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade aims to streamline data sampling and verification from layer 2 networks, thereby enhancing the blockchain’s efficiency. Additionally, the upgrade will help reduce transaction costs and improve the user experience.  The upcoming Fusaka hard fork Mainnet launch is seen as an essential layer of scaling, with pundits believing it will enable Ethereum to handle more transactions more cheaply.

Improve the Network’s Efficiency and Scalability

Hoodi, the final testnet for Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade, comes soon after the Holesky and Sepolia testnets and will now lead to the Fusaka hard fork Mainnet launch. According to a statement from the Ethereum Foundation, the Fusaka hard fork Mainnet launch will take place at least 30 days after the completion of the Hoodi test.

Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade is a back-end-focused technical upgrade aimed at improving the network’s efficiency and scalability, while raising the block gas limit, expanding data “blob” capacity, and strengthening node security features. Notably, the upgrade includes EIP-7594, which introduces the PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling) technology.

This method enables validators to sample and verify only parts of the data rather than the entire structure, thereby enhancing data availability for layer-2 networks and increasing verification efficiency.

Conclusion

Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade encompasses a major network overhaul coming six months after the network implemented the “Pectra” upgrade last May. Developers are upbeat and already discussing the next move, dubbed the “Glamsterdam” upgrade, aiming to enhance and block production speed and transaction parallel processing.

Suppose the upgrade is completed successfully and the Fusaka hard fork Mainnet launch happens as planned. In that case, users can expect a more mature experience in terms of network scalability and layer-2 integration stability.

Glossary to Key Terms

Fusaka upgrade: A significant update to the Ethereum blockchain designed to increase its scalability and efficiency, primarily by boosting transaction capacity and improving how data is handled.

Hard Fork: A backward-incompatible upgrade that creates a permanent split in the network, resulting in two separate and independent blockchains.

Testnet: A replica blockchain network used by developers to test applications, smart contracts, and protocols without using real funds.

Mainnet: The live, fully functional blockchain network where real-world transactions with actual digital assets take place.

Frequently Asked Questions about Fusaka Upgrade

What is the Fusaka upgrade?

A significant network update: Fusaka combines the Osaka (execution layer) and Fulu (consensus layer) upgrades to improve Ethereum’s performance.

When will it launch?

The targeted date for Mainnet activation is December 3, 2025. Public testnet deployments have preceded the Mainnet launch to ensure everything is coordinated correctly.

What will be the impact on users?

The upgrade is expected to make transactions on Layer-2 rollups cheaper and more affordable, and users should expect smoother transactions on scaling solutions due to improved network efficiency.

What are the benefits of the technical improvements?

The block gas limit will be increased from 45 million to 150 million, allowing for more transactions per block as PeerDAS will improve data availability, which is crucial for Layer-2 rollups.

 

Read More: ETH Upgrade Alert: Fusaka Hard Fork Could Finally Fix Ethereum’s Biggest Problem">ETH Upgrade Alert: Fusaka Hard Fork Could Finally Fix Ethereum’s Biggest Problem

This article was first published on The Bit Journal: Why did the MSTR stock price double despite being given a dismal S&P credit rating, and what does that say about the status of Bitcoin as a financial asset?

The world’s leading Bitcoin treasury firm, Strategy, saw its MSTR stock price double despite receiving a dismal S&P credit rating of B-. The firm maintained that Strategy’s weak liquidity and narrow focus could easily lead to its future collapse.

According to a post by Strategy on the social media platform X, S&P Global Ratings placed the Bitcoin treasury firm in speculative, non-investment-grade territory — aka “junk-bond” status — despite the outlook remaining stable.  However, Strategy CEO Michael Saylor noted that his company was the first digital asset treasury to receive an S&P credit rating, which, he said, was a clear indication of the company’s ongoing success.

Confidence in Strategy’s Long-Term Strategy

Despite the low rating, which indicates a lack of confidence, Strategy’s MSTR stock price turned positive, rising 2.27%, implying about 114% upside from Friday’s close and suggesting that investors had confidence in the firm’s long-term Bitcoin strategy. The special attention from investors at a time when the S&P credit rating took a dim view could serve as a milestone for the cryptocurrency industry.

The firm defended its decision to give a poor S&P credit rating, citing Strategy’s balance sheet as overwhelmingly tied to Bitcoin and stating that its low dollar liquidity and negative risk-adjusted capital outweighed strong access to prudent debt management and capital markets. S&P opines that the company’s structure creates an inherent currency mismatch: most assets are held in bitcoin, while debt and dividend obligations are denominated in U.S. dollars. Commenting on their report, the firm stated in their press release:

“We view Strategy’s high bitcoin concentration, narrow business focus, weak risk-adjusted capitalization, and low U.S. dollar liquidity as weaknesses.”

Facts the S&P Credit Rating Overlooked

In reaction to the rating, Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, posted on X saying:

“The company can service debt for now, but is vulnerable to shocks.”

However, crypto economics are known to live and die on community hype, and Strategy’s branding could be an “X factor” that the S&P credit rating may not have incorporated into its system. Even now, new digital asset treasury firms are still referred to as “MicroStrategies,” a nod to the original company’s outsized reputation. Also, the S&P credit rating may have overlooked that TradFi is increasingly integrated with the broader crypto industry.

Conclusion

Despite the firm’s dismal S&P credit rating, Strategy assigned it a stable outlook, citing its past success in maintaining access to capital markets and managing debt maturities. With the next major maturity date set for 2028, the Bitcoin treasury firm has room to improve, as long as Bitcoin’s price doesn’t collapse.

Glossary of Key Terms

Strategy: A company that has a dual business model: it sells AI-powered enterprise analytics software, but its primary Strategy is to hold a large amount of Bitcoin on its balance sheet.

MSTR: MSTR is the stock ticker for Strategy Inc. (formerly MicroStrategy).

Bitcoin treasury firm: A publicly traded corporation that holds a significant amount of its corporate assets in Bitcoin as part of its treasury strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions about Strategy and Bitcoin Treasury Companies

What is Strategy (MicroStrategy) famous for?

Initially, the company focused on developing software for data mining and business intelligence. Currently, the firm’s Strategy involves leveraging its balance sheet to acquire BTC as a primary treasury reserve asset.

How do Bitcoin treasury companies work?

At their core, Bitcoin treasury companies are firms dedicated to accumulating a digital asset, regardless of whether that was the business’s original intent.

What is MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin Strategy?

MicroStrategy raises capital through convertible notes to buy Bitcoin, which helps Bitcoin’s price rise as they buy a lot of it. The MSTR stock price rises as the value of their bitcoin assets increases, and with a higher stock price, Strategy can raise even more money and buy more bitcoin.

 

Read More: S&P Calls It Junk, Market Calls It Gold: Why MSTR Soars 114% With Bitcoin">S&P Calls It Junk, Market Calls It Gold: Why MSTR Soars 114% With Bitcoin

This article was first published on The Bit Journal: Why is Ripple CEO emphasizing the role of XRP in Ripple’s future strategy despite the growing influence of stablecoin RLUSD? Read on to discover.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has reaffirmed XRP’s role in Ripple’s future strategy. Saying that XRP wasn’t simply a token, the CEO stated that it was central to Ripple’s entire ecosystem and daily operations.

The Center of Everything Ripple Does

According to a statement by the chief executive on the social media platform X, Garlinghouse said that even as the company continued building other solutions to enable the Internet of Value, the role of XRP remained at the center of everything. He made the statement after completing a $1.25 billion acquisition of the prime brokerage platform Hidden Road, which has since been renamed Ripple Prime. Commenting on Ripple’s future strategy, Garlinghouse stated:

“With today’s close of Hidden Road (now Ripple Prime), Ripple has announced 5 major acquisitions in ~2 years (GTreasury last week, Rail in August, Standard Custody in 2024, Metaco in 2023) […]  As we continue to build solutions to enable an Internet of Value, I’m reminding you all that XRP sits at the center of everything Ripple does. Lock in.”

Grant Greater Access to Traders

Ripple’s future strategy has involved several acquisitions, such as Hidden Road, aimed at strengthening XRP’s role and improving its liquidity. As a result, it will now be easier for users to buy, sell, and use XRP, enabling more individual traders and institutions to access the token.

According to Ripple President Monica Long, “the future ahead is mighty bright,” since the firm intended to use the deal to unlock utility for both XRP and new stablecoin RLUSD. Long noted that RLUSD was already being used as collateral in prime brokerage products and that Ripple Prime was exploring additional ways to use XRP.

The Center of Ripple’s Future Strategy

While stablecoin RLUSD was already receiving increased market focus, Garlinghouse stated that XRP would continue to serve as a bridge asset within its On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) solution, which has now been rebranded as Ripple Payments. Addressing concerns that an emphasis on stablecoin RLUSD would diminish XRP’s role, Garlinghouse reassured the XRP community that XRP would remain at the center of Ripple’s future strategy. He further stated:

“XRP is the heart of Ripple’s strategy. We are committed to ensuring its continued role in our ecosystem.”

Conclusion

Even amid ongoing global expansion and strategic acquisitions, the company’s entire leadership has reassured users that XRP’s role within the Ripple ecosystem remains intact. Garlinghouse states that the token was not simply a cryptocurrency, as Ripple’s future strategy was founded on.

Ripple’s infrastructure has been designed to complement XRP’s utility and ensure that it remains the central cog of the firm’s growing portfolio.

As Ripple’s influence expands globally, it will be interesting to see how the company places the token as central to its success in the digital asset market.

Glossary to Key Terms

Ripple: A blockchain-based digital payment company that has created a network and protocol that uses the cryptocurrency XRP and the XRP Ledger.

XRP: A digital asset that serves as the native cryptocurrency for the XRP Ledger (XRPL), an open-source, decentralized blockchain built for fast and low-cost global payments.

RLUSD: Also known as Ripple USD, it’s the official Ripple stablecoin, pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and built on the XRP Ledger. Designed for instant payments and institutional use, RLUSD brings together stability, compliance, and speed, connecting the traditional financial world with on-chain liquidity.

Frequently Asked Questions about XRP

 What are the interesting facts about XRP?

XRP is sometimes referred to as “the banker’s coin,” and for that reason, XRP was originally used for sending cross-border remittances. Today, the primary use case for XRP is making high-value cross-border payments.

What Can I Buy or Pay for With XRP?

Online stores, gift card sites, and some businesses accept XRP for goods and services. Many payment gateways (like Bitpay) integrate XRP as a payment method.

Is XRP Used Outside of Crypto Trading?

Yes. Ripple Labs partners with major banks and payment providers to enable XRP for real-world cross-border payments (e.g., remittances and B2B payment services).

Can I use XRP to transfer money overseas?

Yes. XRP is designed for fast, low-cost international transfers. Many remittance services integrate XRP into their workflows.

 

Read More: Why XRP Still Matters in Ripple’s Strategy Despite RLUSD’s Growing Influence">Why XRP Still Matters in Ripple’s Strategy Despite RLUSD’s Growing Influence