Our Summary:Base, the Ethereum layer 2 network built by Coinbase, reported a record $500 million in weekly trading volume for the prior week, with tokenized stocks contributing a significant portion of the growth. The network's total value locked in decentralized finance hit an all-time high of approximately $6.2 billion in late September 2026.

Our Summary:Robinhood Chain, a permissionless Ethereum layer-2 network, has integrated NEAR Intents, enabling users to swap Ethereum-native tokens and the USDG stablecoin across over 180 assets and 30 chains. This upgrade allows for intent-based cross-chain swaps, making assets more mobile and increasing the network's utility.

Our Summary:Pudgy Penguins' parent company, Igloo, will shut down its Abstract layer 2 on December 15, 2026, due to insufficient revenue to cover operating costs. Approximately $76M in assets remain on the network, and users must move their holdings before the deadline to avoid losing access to funds. The shutdown is the second Ethereum-linked layer 2 to announce a closure in less than a week, following Blast's decision on October 2.

Our Summary:Abstract, a Layer 2 Ethereum blockchain, will shut down by mid-December due to a lack of product-market fit and high costs. The move comes after the chain lost tens of millions of dollars over two years and failed to find a market for its services. Pudgy Penguins-backed Abstract joins the growing list of Ethereum L2s calling it quits, including Blast. The shutdown is seen as a setback for users who had invested time and effort in accumulating XP, a reward system for users who brought utility to the platform. Igloo CEO Luca Schnetzler justifies the move, stating that the company cannot justify taking funds from Pudgy Penguins to support a chain that has not found product-market fit.

Our Summary:Pudgy Penguins' Ethereum layer 2 abstract has become the second to shut down in a week, citing regulatory issues and high gas fees. The shutdown is attributed to the increasing complexity and regulatory hurdles faced by layer 2 solutions, making it challenging for developers to maintain the infrastructure. This development highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the Ethereum ecosystem, particularly with regards to scalability and regulatory compliance.

Our Summary:Igloo Inc. is shutting down its consumer-focused Ethereum layer 2 network Abstract, citing tens of millions in losses despite its success in onboarding users and brand partners. The chain will go dark on December 15, 2026, with users needing to migrate assets before then.

Our Summary:Pudgy Penguins, a consumer-focused Ethereum Layer-2 platform, announced it will shut down on December 15, citing unsustainable operations and urging users to migrate their assets. The platform, which has been in operation since 2021, aimed to simplify and facilitate user interactions with the Ethereum network. However, the company claims that a chain dedicated solely to consumer crypto proved unsustainable, leading to the decision to cease operations. Users are advised to bridge their assets to other platforms before the shutdown date.

Our Summary:The Ethereum Layer-2 network Blast is shutting down due to rising costs exceeding revenue, with Coinbase suspending BLAST token trading on October 20, 2026, and users advised to withdraw assets by October 26, 2026.

Our Summary:Abstract, a layer-2 Ethereum network built by Igloo Inc., will shut down on December 15, 2026, due to financial losses and stagnant growth. Users must migrate their assets before the deadline to avoid losing access to their funds permanently.

Our Summary:Pudgy Penguins' Ethereum Layer-2, a platform focused on consumer crypto, will shut down on December 15, citing unsustainability. The platform is urging users to bridge their assets off before the shutdown, which aims to prevent user losses. The decision comes after the platform realized that a chain focused solely on consumer crypto proved unsustainable.

Our Summary:Starknet has released version 0.14.4 on mainnet, focusing on scale and introducing bigger proofs and gas tweaks. The upgrade aligns transaction pricing with economic costs, shifting costs by less than 1% for most transactions. Developers can now run compute-heavy logic off-chain and pay proof fees instead of full execution fees.

Our Summary:Ethereum layer 2 network Blast is shutting down due to financial performance, leaving users with limited time to withdraw their ETH and BLAST coins. Deposits are safe, but withdrawals will pause after October 26, requiring users to act quickly to retrieve their assets.