🧠 1. EigenLayer (EIGEN) – Staking auxiliary layer on Ethereum
• Little-known information: EigenLayer allows the reuse of staked ETH to secure other applications — called restaking.
• Strengths: Backed by a16z, Coinbase Ventures, and Paradigm. Although trading is not widely open yet, tokens have been distributed in testnet.
• Potential: Could be one of the largest auxiliary Layer 2 tokens for Ethereum by 2025.
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🌀 2. Celestia (TIA) – Modular Blockchain
• Omitted information: Most only know TIA as a modular blockchain, but do not know that Celestia provides a Data Availability Layer for other chains like Dymension, Manta.
• Strengths: Compared to the “AWS of blockchain” — anyone working in blockchain needs it.
• Current status: Actively being integrated into many rollups in the Cosmos & Ethereum ecosystem.
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🪙 3. Redacted Cartel (BTRFLY) – Strategic governance protocol
• Hidden information: This is a DAO specializing in purchasing DeFi governance tokens like veCRV, TOKE to control liquidity and yield.
• Strengths: Operates like a DeFi investment fund but has its own token.
• Reason few know: Because the name “BTRFLY” is hard to remember and the project operates quietly.
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🧬 4. Pyth Network (PYTH) – Competitor oracle to Chainlink
• Little-known detail: PYTH does not use node validators like Chainlink but takes data directly from major exchanges like Binance, OKX, Bybit.
• Notable: The oracle updates prices faster than Chainlink – extremely useful for trading bots.
• Applications: Used by Synthetix, Jupiter, Drift, etc.
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🧊 5. Ethena (ENA) & USD3 token (Synthetic Dollar)
• Secret point: USD3 is not a stablecoin like USDC, but a “delta-neutral” synthetic asset – earning from staking ETH and shorting equivalent.
• Profit mechanism: Holders of USD3 can get an APY of 20–30% depending on the time.
• Few understand clearly: This profit model is quite risky but is currently hot in the new DeFi.