Summer just ended, but things are feeling like Spring in the world of crypto! To celebrate Across’ launch to zkSync Era, we introduced the “Ape Into zkSummer” campaign, a continuation from our Ape Into Arbitrum campaign from earlier this year.
Co-hosted by community favourite, Taho Wallet, the goal of this initiative was to educate Across and Taho users on the promising projects live on zkSync’s growing ecosystem. To achieve this, we got to know 15 zkSync-native protocols by hosting Twitter Spaces, either 1 on 1 or on niche-specfic panels, with plenty of games and prizes to excite our audience for the wave of educational content!
This recap is meant to provide a deep dive into zkSync Era’s hidden gems and heavy hitters, so you don’t have to! We know that it’s tough, if not impossible, to keep up with all of the moving pieces in Web3, so to help our Across users not miss out on the incredible L2 opportunities out there, this campaign was born.
Overall, the Ape Into zkSummer campaign is a testament to Across’ dedication to building the best cross-chain bridge for Ethereum and providing users with unbeatable security, speeds and prices. Here is a recap of the projects we’ve met with during our campaign.
The DEXes of zkSync Era
Maverick Protocol
Maverick Protocol ($MAV) is a DeFi infrastructure provider focused on increasing industry efficiency, powered by Maverick AMM. Maverick’s developed in 3 phases to improve capital efficiency for liquidity providers, incentivization efficiency for token projects, and the degree of decentralization for DeFi builders:
Phase 1: Maverick’s novel Dynamic Distribution AMM. Maverick AMM introduced the 4 liquidity modes and customized liquidity distribution to maximize flexibility and enable higher capital efficiency for liquidity providers.
Phase 2: Liquidity shaping tools — Maverick’s Boosted Position smart contract enables other protocols to incentivize liquidity based on boosted positions (instead of the whole pool).
Phase 3: Ve-based incentive voting model. A set of Maverick smart contracts to enable voting on liquidity positions and fee disbursements.
Mute
Mute is a DeFi platform, serving as a liquidity hub for all projects on zkSync. With over $400m in volume and 5+ million transactions settled, Mute’s dynamic dApp features both a concentrated and standard pool AMM DEX, complete with limit orders, a farming platform, and a bond platform. Experience the evolution of DeFi 2.0 with low fees and gas-less swaps!
veSync
veSync is a cutting-edge Decentralized Exchange (DEX) built on the zkSync network, seamlessly combining liquidity, voting, and rewards to create an unparalleled DeFi experience. Offering fast, cost-effective transactions and a robust ve(3,3) incentivization model, veSync empowers its community through permissionless pool creation, democratic voting, and fee accumulation for ve lockers.
These key factors drive a more engaged and dynamic DeFi ecosystem, establishing veSync as a leading platform in the decentralized finance space.
Check out our panel with the teams behind Mute, veSync & Maverick here:
Velocore
Velocore is the leading ve(3,3) dex on zkSyncEra & Linea. Through the revolutionized AMM and ve(3,3) system, users could save gas cost up to 90% on swap and vote/bribe in real time without caring the epoch.
The above blurb is NOTHING compared to what Velocore’s got cooking. Check out our video on the DEX, where we somehow were able to stuff all their features into this 60 second clip!
The NFTs of zkSync Era
zKitty
5,333 space kittys on the zkSync Era blockchain bringing automated airdrop farming bots to the masses! The ZKitty DAO community is a space for airdrop farmers looking to gain exposure to the most lucrative airdrops in crypto. Automate your airdrop tasks with our proprietary NFT-Fi smart contracts and Telegram Bots to effortlessly participate in both current and upcoming airdrop events without the need for extensive research or navigating technical hurdles.
Become eligible for the most sought after airdrops in crypto with just a few clicks…🤖
Learn more about the zKitty NFT collection here:
Hue
Hue is a collection of 6,400 unique generative art NFTs by the artist Kenbak, living & vibing on chain, exclusively on zkSync! Hues are building a portfolio of IP that includes patents pending, affiliate marketing, games, stories, toys, educational tools, and much, much more. And best of all, Hues can split into pixels and recombine on-chain so that every Hue NFT can become up to 64 separate NFTs.
zkPengz
The FIRST fully on-chain NFT collection on ZKSync ERA, zkPengz is a pixel-perfect set of NFTs using Web3’s favourite motif: Penguins 🐧 The team behind zkPengz are a group of degens who are aligned in pushing the limits of NFT innovation and have created their very own NFT multichain bridge!
Check out our zkSync Era NFT panel with zkPengz & Hue, here:
The DeFi Protocols (Lending & More!) of zkSync Era
prePO
prePO is a decentralized investing platform allowing anyone to gain exposure to any pre-IPO stock or pre-launch token. prePO’s mission is to democratize pre-public investing — transforming a world of financial exclusion into a world of permissionless access.
Check out this incredible innovation in DeFi from prePO by watching our protocol overview video here:
Dracula Finance
Dracula Finance is a liquidity market place on zkSync ERA, they are revamping ve(3,3) and solidly with their unique Bribes Bond feature. With Bribes Bonds, users can deposit USDC to receive veFANG (voting power) tokens at a discounted rate.
Dracula Fi is solving the inflation issue (decreasing APR) of ve(3,3) through $USDC supplied by bonders.
Fringe Finance
Fringe Finance is a cutting-edge decentralized money market platform designed to unlock the capital spread in crypto assets, regardless of their capitalization and supported network. Its next-generation DeFi lending and borrowing ecosystem aims to unlock dormant capital from traditional financial markets and all-tier cryptocurrencies.
The ultimate goal of Fringe Finance is to enable a fully permissionless DeFi environment, allowing retail users, DAOs, and whales alike to benefit from the most lucrative opportunities.
Check out more about this robust lending protocol here:
Basilisk
Welcome to Basilisk, the next generation of borrow/lending protocols built on the zkSync Layer 2 solution. Our mission at Basilisk is to redefine the way decentralized finance (DeFi) operates by leveraging the advantages of zkSync to bring forth a faster, more scalable, and highly secure DeFi experience. Basilisk offers a comprehensive and user-friendly platform for borrowing and lending digital assets, with several key features:
- Instant transactions: Borrowing and lending on Basilisk will be significantly faster compared to traditional DeFi protocols, thanks to the speed of zkSync Layer 2.
- Low fees: zkSync’s reduced gas fees will make borrowing and lending more affordable, attracting a broader range of users to our platform.
- Secure and transparent: Basilisk maintains the security and transparency standards of DeFi while leveraging the capabilities of zkSync to ensure a smooth user experience.
- Innovative financial tools: Users can benefit from our advanced financial tools, such as variable interest rates, collateral management, and yield farming opportunities.
Learn more about Basilisk from our AMA with their Core Team here:
The Gaming Projects of zkSync Era
Crypto Maze
Cryptomaze is a zkEVM Gaming & Entertainment ecosystem. Crypto Maze is a mobile-first ecosystem that makes it easy for everyday people, gamers, communities and brands to create Web3 mini-games, custom digital assets and unique virtual experiences and enjoy them together.
The platforms hosts 2 playable games and 2 sold-out NFT collections! Their most recent collection sold out a record-breaking 1.2 million NFTs on zkSync, which have been deployed on Crypto Maze’s NFT Marketplace called, Traki.
Get to know this amazing gaming platform Crypto Maze better, here:
Robots Farm
Robots Farm is a gamified decentralized exchange (DEX) and stands as the first gasless Play-to-Earn platform on zkSync Era.
Players can construct and upgrade operations to augment returns, embark on quests, and hunt for rare NFTs that can significantly influence rewards and profits. Robots Farm boasts around 10k daily active players, so what are you waiting for?
Learn more about this innovation in DeFi and how Robots Farm has married gaming and finance, here:
The Exciting Niche Projects of zkSync Era
Goal3
Goal3 is more than just a betting platform — it’s a revolutionary experience that combines the power of blockchain technology with the speed and efficiency of the zkSync Era Ethereum layer 2. With Goal3, users can bet on a wide variety of sporting events, both mainstream and niche, with competitive odds and no compromises.
What sets Goal3 apart is its decentralized and autonomous betting market, powered by an automated market-maker (AMM) algorithm that determines odds and lines solely by market demand. With the security and transparency of blockchain technology, users can enjoy a truly permissionless betting experience, available to everyone, anytime, anywhere.
Check out what makes this L2 sportsbook special, here:
DMail
Dmail Network, an AI-powered decentralized communication infra that provides seamless, anonymous messaging, storage, marketing and notification services across multi-chain & apps.
The next-generation blockchain mailbox, Dmail, integrates blockchain principles with traditional mailbox functionalities. This integration enables users to send and receive messages while utilizing various additional features. The platform serves as more than just a mailbox; it incorporates assets and even offers profitable gaming functions. Dmail combines blockchain economic models, transforming various aspects of life into financial opportunities.
Learn more about the project with over 3 million sign-ups, here:
We sincerely hope that everyone had a great time getting to know the projects that are pioneering the zkSync Era ecosystem and have been experiencing the fast and affordable token bridging Across is known for!
Join us for Across’ next “Ape In” campaign soon!
Across is a cross-chain bridge for L2s and mainnet Ethereum. It is secured by UMA’s optimistic oracle. Across optimizes for capital efficiency by running a competitive relayer landscape, concentrating liquidity, and by offering a no-slippage fee model.
Website | Forum | Discord | Twitter | YouTube | Docs | Github
