2024 has been an interesting year, one of the milestones of course being Bitcoin finally breaking and going over $100,000. Between the launch of crypto ETFs, crypto’s impact on elections, and the rise of crypto AI agents, it’s been a wild ride. In this year-end review, we’ll highlight the key Web3 trends and developments of 2024 and explore what they mean for builders, users, and investors heading into 2025.

As Ethereum's scalability challenges pushed transaction fees to record highs in 2021, Layer 2 (L2) networks emerged as the critical solution. Among these, Arbitrum has become a leader of the pack, attracting thousands of developers who are reimagining what's possible when blockchains become fast and affordable.

From Velodrome’s innovative platform for trading future DeFi yield to Farcaster's fresh take on decentralized social media, the Optimism ecosystem is alive with innovation. With major players like Coinbase and Sony building their L2s — Base and Soneium, respectively — on the OP Stack, Optimism is hot. Total value locked (TVL) on Optimism Mainnet has soared past $500 million, with around 570,000 daily transactions. 

Web3 can be all fun and games, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare if you fall victim to scams or hacks. In 2023, nearly $1B in crypto assets have been lost or stolen through security exploits, with Q3 being reported as the quarter with the highest losses from security incidents, so far — a harsh reminder that securing your crypto assets is not something to be taken lightly. But, here's the good news: there are security practices and tools you can use to keep your crypto assets secure.

Base, the Ethereum Layer 2 network by Coinbase, has become a thriving hub of innovation and collaboration in Web3. In this blog, we'll take you on a journey through some of the most interesting projects building on Base. From social decentralized apps (dApps) to NFTs and action-packed games, these projects showcase the creativity of Web3 teams. So, let's dive in and explore the standout projects that have really caught our eye.

As the NFT market gets more and more crowded, utility and exclusivity are becoming increasingly important to draw buyers and collectors. Nowhere is that more evident than the rise of membership NFTs like PROOF Collective and LinksDAO.

While many of the blue chip NFTs that have dominated headlines — like Bored Ape Yacht Club and Doodles — grant holders' status (due to high cost) and access to exclusive experiences, in this trend report we’re going to walk through some of the most interesting membership NFTs that were created and purpose-built to provide holders with tangible membership benefits.