Preview of Important Developments in the Crypto Market for the Coming Week

March 17

A trading platform plans to launch Solana (SOL) futures. The platform will offer two specifications of contracts: micro contracts of (25 SOL) and large contracts of (500 SOL), settled in cash, based on the CF Solana Dollar Reference Rate. This move will enrich the platform's crypto market product suite.

Ethereum developers will launch the "Hoodi" testnet for final testing of the Pectra upgrade. The Pectra upgrade aims to optimize Ethereum's usability and scalability, including reducing Layer 2 data costs and increasing staking limits. If the testing goes smoothly, the upgrade could be deployed to the mainnet as early as April 25.

Starknet plans to launch its mainnet between March 17 and 24. Its 2025 roadmap focuses on becoming the first fully decentralized Layer 2 to scale Ethereum at a large scale, with key focuses including staking mechanisms, decentralized operation, and governance independence.

A certain open-source crowdfunding platform has announced details of six community rounds, involving areas such as ecological coordination and public welfare construction, with each round funding approximately $21,000. The open-source software project OSS Program is scheduled to apply starting from March 17.

ZKsync has announced the termination of the Ignite program and will stop the distribution of rewards, focusing instead on the development of the Elastic Network. Ignite has helped ZKsync Era's TVL increase to $270 million, and in the future, the team will optimize the token economic model and launch new ecosystem incentives.

March 18

A certain social media giant will launch the "Community Notes" feature in the United States, applicable to several of its platforms. This system draws on the crowdsourced fact-checking mechanism of another well-known social platform, aiming to enhance the transparency and scalability of information verification.

A certain Layer 1 blockchain has announced the closure of its wallet extension service. Users need to complete data migration before the specified date, otherwise they will be unable to access the data on the test network.

A certain public chain foundation has launched the naming service (NS) plan, aimed at providing users with a simple and recognizable on-chain identity. Developers can submit proposals for funding, with a deadline of March 18. The plan aims to promote ecological innovation and enhance user experience.

March 19-20

An Indian crypto exchange announced a vote on the proposed restructuring plan, scheduled from March 19 to 28. If approved, approximately 85% of the account balance will be distributed to creditors within 10 working days.

The Federal Reserve will announce its interest rate decision and economic outlook summary on March 20, which the market is highly focused on.

A well-known exchange's international platform will launch three new perpetual contracts. Another exchange announced the delisting of multiple spot trading pairs and reminded users to manage their assets in a timely manner.

A certain public chain will undergo a mainnet hard fork upgrade, introducing features such as Gas abstraction and the smart contractification of EOA wallets, aiming to lower the entry barrier for users into Web3 and enhance the on-chain experience.

March 21-23

The newly established cryptocurrency special working group of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ( SEC ) will hold its first roundtable meeting on the topic of "Defining Securities Status." This is part of the "Spring Sprint, Seeking Clarity in the Crypto Market" series of meetings.

A certain gaming company will proceed to the next round of debate with employees regarding the lawsuit over virtual asset performance bonuses. The focus is on whether a verbal agreement exists and how to balance employee interests with company risks.

The Ethereum Foundation has extended the application deadline for the 2025 academic grant program to March 23, with a total available funding of $2 million to support relevant academic research.

Multiple projects will have token unlocks this week, including ApeCoin, Solv Protocol, Immutable, etc., with varying amounts and values.