Walking calmly in the whirlwind of blockchain network news, today the tension for INJ suddenly hardened after an announcement that seemed like a warning bell that it is now not just about 'what can be built', but 'where and how' a project can grow. On November 11, 2025, Injective announced the launch of a native EVM execution layer on their network, not just an option, but full integration with the core architecture of the network. (injective.com)
I like to imagine it like opening a gate beneath a cyber-futuristic city: all this time Injective has been built as a high-performance network, very fast blocks, quick execution, low costs, but always somewhat separated from the "large" ecosystem that has grown on Ethereum. With the emergence of this native EVM, that distance seems to fade. Developers who have long chosen the "main road" of Ethereum due to the large tooling and liquidity now have a shortcut: they can enter Injective without having to rewrite their entire stack while still taking advantage of the technical advantages offered by Injective. (coindesk.com)
But let’s look at it from another angle, not just "what has been announced", but "what can actually change" and "what needs to be anticipated." Because such a significant upgrade is indeed tempting, but the courtroom floor is still vulnerable, and investors, users, developers all need to observe carefully.
First, from the perspective of the developer ecosystem: what does it feel like now to be in a position to choose a platform. On one hand, Ethereum is mature, in many cases "sufficient". But high gas fees, slightly larger latency, and more projects seeking efficiency. With Injective offering both EVM and WASM options in one network, meaning one contract, one asset can traverse or operate in two different modes, the path for innovation is wide open. (injective.com) Developers can experiment: whether they want to attract large liquidity from Ethereum or explore high-performance paths that could previously only be achieved on specialized networks.
Second, user experience, this is often overlooked. Imagine a DeFi application with transaction fees nearly zero (the figures mentioned: "block 0.64 seconds" and transaction fee "USD 0.00008" in a Coindesk article). (coindesk.com) This is not just a buzzword. It can be felt by small users who have long hesitated because the "low entry cost" still feels substantial. Now, if the network indeed functions as claimed, the barrier to entry is even lower. This opens opportunities for users from Asia, including Indonesia, to explore DeFi or on-chain financial applications without worrying about being "held back by costs."
But yes, there are still pebbles. A good announcement does not guarantee that millions of users will flood the network, or that the INJ token will immediately soar. Several analysis reports indicate that although the EVM upgrade has indeed sparked attention, the price is still in the "waiting for the next step" zone. For example: the article mentions INJ consolidating around $13 and still facing significant technical resistance. (blockchain.news) Thus, the big bet lies in how the ecosystem will move after the upgrade, not just "successful upgrade" but "real applications, real users, real activities."
From the perspective of "beyond developers and users", namely institutions: networks like Injective that want to align with the larger financial world, tokenization of real-world assets, pre-IPO markets, on-chain derivatives, all of this requires solid infrastructure, clear regulations, and a proven ecosystem. On its official blog, Injective itself states that this upgrade opens opportunities for "institutional-grade infrastructure and custody." (injective.com) If institutions start to enter, it’s not just about hype, but about "large volume" and "large liquidity". But this is where the market often hesitates: are the regulatory guidelines clear enough? Do institutions want to enter quickly or wait for proof? Time will tell.
For us in Southeast Asia, there is a local nuance worth noting. As the network becomes cheaper and faster, users can start experimenting with DeFi without having to rely on large networks that often "lag" during busy times. For local developers: this could be an opportunity to build prototypes or launch projects at low costs while leveraging EVM compatibility to adapt familiar tooling more easily. However, since blockchain remains global, challenges persist: competition with other networks that are also aggressively pursuing EVM compatibility and high performance.
So, if you ask me "is this the momentum?", I would answer: yes, this has potential momentum, but rather than immediately saying "let's buy now", it's better to acknowledge that we are at the beginning of a new phase. A phase where the road has been slightly widened, but the big vehicles (developers, projects, institutions) have not all passed through. For those wanting to start observing: monitor metrics such as the number of new dApps on Injective, daily transaction count, average fees, and how many real-world assets are starting to emerge on this network.
In the end, Injective is not just another competitor chasing "fast blockchain". Its decision to open EVM natively is a signal that they want to bridge two worlds: the mature DeFi world and the specific high-performance world. For those waiting for an "efficient path to global DeFi with minimal costs", this could be a place worth watching. Will this turn into a "wide door to altseason and price breakout"? That still depends on how the ecosystem moves from now.
