Odaily News: Blockchain data analytics platform Nansen released its "Starknet H1 2026 Report," stating that in the first half of 2026, Starknet completed its strategic transformation from a high-performance Layer 2 network to a "privacy-preserving execution layer." The launch of the STRK20 privacy framework and the Bitcoin asset strkBTC became the ecosystem's most significant upgrades.The report notes that as an Ethereum-based ZK-Rollup network, Starknet generates STARK proofs off-chain and verifies them on-chain, achieving high throughput and low transaction costs. Its smart contracts use the Cairo language, specifically designed for verifiable computation, and support native account abstraction functionality.In the first half of this year, Starknet launched the v0.14.2 upgrade, introducing the SNIP-36 protocol to lay the technical foundation for private transactions. This upgrade allows the network to directly verify off-chain execution proofs, enabling confidential state transitions without exposing account balances or counterparty information. Additionally, SNIP-37 adjusted the network's economic model, increasing storage costs while lowering base gas fees to optimize incentives for long-term state growth.In terms of privacy applications, Starknet launched the STRK20 privacy framework, which allows users to convert any ERC-20 asset into encrypted balances and conduct private transfers, trades, and DeFi interactions. The system is built on zero-knowledge proof technology and implements compliant auditing through an encrypted viewing key mechanism, protecting user privacy while supporting targeted information disclosure in regulatory scenarios.On-chain data shows that in Q2 2026, Starknet recorded an average daily transaction volume of approximately 239,000 and an average of about 50,000 daily active addresses. During the period, a total of 22.5 million transactions were completed, involving approximately 71,000 users. Among these, DEX aggregator AVNU contributed roughly 14 million transactions, accounting for 62.2% of total volume; gaming infrastructure Cartridge contributed 6.57 million transactions, with the two combined accounting for approximately 91% of transaction activity.

Odaily News According to MGBX spot market data, AZTEC has surged past 0.0295 USDT and is currently trading at 0.0287 USDT, with a 24-hour increase exceeding 54% and a cumulative increase surpassing 195%.Aztec Network is a privacy ZK-rollup on Ethereum, enabling decentralized applications to access privacy and scalability. Aztec's rollup is secured by the industry-standard PLONK proof mechanism used by zero-knowledge scaling projects.

Odaily Planet Daily reports that LazAI, in collaboration with ZKM, Metis, and GOAT Network, has officially launched GMPayer, a multi-currency payment hub powered by x402. This platform aims to build a decentralized, trustless, multi-chain, multi-currency payment system supporting instant, multi-transaction payments between AI Agents. GMPayer will evolve through a four-stage development path, starting with establishing a basic payment hub and gradually developing into a universal value exchange layer supporting seamless interaction across the entire AI, data, and service chain. GMPayer builds its technological ecosystem on four core strengths: LazAI directly binds data sources, rights, and benefits to datasets and models through the Data Anchored Token (DAT) standard; ZKM uses zero-knowledge proofs to ensure the verifiability and trustlessness of x402 transactions; Metis, as the core of execution and settlement, provides low fees and fast finality; and GOAT, as the native Bitcoin settlement layer, enables ultra-low-cost cross-chain flow through EIP-3009 and zkRollup. The platform is simultaneously launching a proof-of-concept token, BANG, on both Metis Andromeda and GOAT Network, with a total supply of 1 billion (half on each chain). Of these, 250 million will be allocated to token minting and 250 million to liquidity on each chain. The BANG token is currently only for proof-of-concept use and has no utilities yet. Participants can join in the following ways: 1. Visit the GMPear website (https://gmpayer.ai), connect your wallet, and select a network; 2. Convert $METIS or $GOATED to $xMETIS or $xGOATED at a 1:1 ratio; 3. By contributing the equivalent of $1 USD in tokens through the x402 payment interface, you can receive 5000 $BANG tokens. This proof-of-concept token minting event will last for 72 hours and supports repeated participation (maximum of $1 per participation).

According to an official announcement from Odaily Planet Daily, BitMart will launch GOAT Network (GOATED) at 20:00 (GMT+8) on September 27, opening the GOATED/USDT trading pair. The GOAT Network is a Bitcoin-native ZK Rollup designed to provide sustainable native BTC yields through a groundbreaking combination of in-house zkMIPS (the fastest production-grade zkVM), a practical BitVM 2 challenge model (reducing the challenge period from 14 days to less than 1 day), and Bitcoin's first decentralized sequencer network.

Odaily Planet Daily reported that cryptocurrency exchange Bybit announced a comprehensive upgrade of Mantle (MNT)'s functional integration within the platform and has launched an MNT-exclusive page covering all MNT rights and activities across the platform, marking that MNT has officially become a strategic asset connecting Bybit's entire product line with the Mantle ecosystem. MNT has shown explosive growth recently, hitting a record high of $1.88 on September 23, and successfully leaped to become the largest ZK Rollup chain based on total locked value. Its total locked value has exceeded $2 billion, and its recent monthly price increase has reached 60%. According to the latest news on the official website, the rights and interests enjoyed by MNT holders and users on Bybit include: - Institutional clients: Enhanced leverage and higher capital efficiency - VIP Accelerator: MNT holders can quickly upgrade to VIP level - Platform discount: Use MNT to trade and enjoy up to 25% reduction in transaction fees - Zero Fees: 20 MNT-denominated spot trading pairs will be free of fees within one month until October 23rd - Bybit Financial Management: Diversified financial management options including MNT discounts, fixed savings, dual-currency products, etc. - Bybit Card: Exclusive bonuses and fee reductions for MNT transactions To celebrate the completion of the ecosystem integration, Bybit will host an exclusive livestream event titled “The MNT Journey Starts Here: Unlocking Bybit’s Full Access” at 8:00 AM (UTC) on September 26th, providing users with a comprehensive guide to the latest strategies and platform applications.

Odaily Planet Daily News BOB (Buildon Bitcoin) announced a partnership with zero-knowledge proof infrastructure RISC Zero. By integrating Kailua, a hybrid architecture framework launched by RISC Zero, it will become the industry's first Rollup project to use zero-knowledge proof as fraud proof. It will significantly save time and costs of existing settings, and can shorten the withdrawal time from the usual 7 days to 1 hour. This is a key step for BOB to achieve Rollup Phase 1 and Phase 2 on L2beat. BOB is the first chain to use zero-knowledge proof (ZK). Compared with the Optimistic Rollup with slow withdrawal speed and expensive anti-fraud mechanism and the ZK Rollup with high operating cost, this new method combines the advantages of both. Alexei Zamyatin, co-founder of BOB and founding member of the BitVM Alliance, said: “With the launch of a fully functional proof system, BOBL2 will have full Ethereum security. This means that BOB will remain on the L2 layer of Phase 0, while most other L2 layers will move to other categories on L2Beat. Phase 1 Rollup only depends on the launch of the Security Committee, which will be announced in the near future. Phase 2 Rollup only requires opening the proposal process to anyone.”

Odaily News According to the official announcement, BitMart will launch Mango Network (MGO) at 11:00 (ET8) on July 14, and the MGO/USDT trading pair will be opened. Mango Network is a Layer 1 full-chain multi-virtual machine infrastructure that mainly solves the pain points of fragmented user experience, liquidity, etc. in Web3 applications and DeFi protocols. It combines the core advantages of Move, OPStack, and ZK Rollup to build an efficient blockchain network that supports cross-chain communication and multi-virtual machine interoperability, while supporting MoveVM, EVM, and SVM, providing developers and users with a secure, modular, and high-performance Web3 infrastructure.

Odaily News Lunar Digital Assets announced the launch of Litecoin's ecological zero-knowledge Layer-2 network LitVM, introducing smart contracts to Litecoin, which was born in 2011. The network is built on BitcoinOS and Polygon CDK and is supported by the Litecoin Foundation. LitVM is an EVM-compatible ZK Rollup that aims to introduce smart contract functionality, cross-chain liquidity, and real-world asset (RWA) support. Lunar Digital Assets said that LitVM will help Litecoin expand into the DeFi and Web3 ecosystems, providing on-chain use cases such as stablecoin payments and programmable assets (Runes, Lordinals). (Benzinga)

Odaily News Starknet officially announced that it has upgraded to the first phase of the Rollup decentralized framework, pure ZK Rollup, and will then enter the second phase.

Odaily News Aztec, a privacy and scaling solution based on ZK Rollup, stated on social media that it has launched a public testnet.