Epoch Summit Showcases Blockchain Innovations Across

Epoch Summit, a premier blockchain infrastructure conference, recently hosted events in Seoul and Singapore. Attracting a lineup of top speakers from some of the most influential projects in the crypto industry. Across two events—one held during Korea Blockchain Week and another spanning two days in Singapore—Epoch Summit explored the future of blockchain infrastructure with insights from leaders at ConsenSys, Lido, Uniswap, Worldcoin, Berachain, Mantle, and others.

John Park, CEO of A41 and host of the Singapore event, opened the conference by explaining Epoch’s mission: to discuss “open finance, or state-free money, or how people are trying to imagine the future with less reliance on the government or corporations.” The conference, he noted, aimed to go beyond A41’s core focus on liquid staking by covering a range of advanced blockchain topics, including zero-knowledge technology, account abstraction, and dark pools.

Key Discussions on Layer 1 Scaling and Blockchain Interoperability

One highlight of the conference was a talk by Max Resnick, Head of Research at Special Mechanisms Group. Who spoke on the future of block building. Resnick argued for prioritizing Layer 1 (L1) blockchain scaling, emphasizing that L1 has been “neglected for too long.” He recommended a concentrated effort to make L1 faster and more competitive. Capitalizing on its established network effects to keep pace with newer blockchains. “The best thing to do would be to focus all of our attention on scaling L1,” he said, advocating for an infrastructure-first approach to blockchain innovation.

MetaMask Customization and Privacy with Secure Multi-Party Computation

Francesco Andreolí, Head of Developer Community at ConsenSys, introduced new customization features for MetaMask through its Snaps program. Snaps allow for third-party applications to integrate with MetaMask. Providing users with “customized journeys” and pre-configured wallets that simplify interactions across various blockchain layers. Andreolí highlighted the benefit of this approach for user experience, noting, “People don’t even know what they are transacting on which level.”

Meanwhile, Worldcoin’s Head of Blockchain, Remco Bloeman, discussed using secure multi-party computation (SMPC) to enhance data privacy while scaling. He explained that Worldcoin chose linear SMPC in a semi-honest scenario for its balance of security and performance. To address the minor trust assumptions involved. Bloeman said Worldcoin is using trusted execution environments (TEEs) for additional attestation. This approach allows Worldcoin to provide strong privacy guarantees while maintaining transaction efficiency.

DeFi Challenges: Arbitrage Opportunities Between CEXs and DEXs

Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX, spoke at Epoch’s Seoul event on the advantages high-frequency traders currently have in DeFi. According to Hayes, traders are exploiting the latency in decentralized exchange (DEX) price oracles to perform arbitrage between centralized exchanges (CEXs) and DEXs. “Usually most DEXs have a one-to-five second latency on the oracle update, so that means you’re always behind the Binances of the world,” he explained. Hayes believes that for DEXs to become price setters, this latency must be reduced. And he suggested that as more people become restricted on CEXs, demand for decentralized alternatives will grow.

Looking Ahead: Technical Focus and Next Steps for Epoch Summit

John Park reflected on the event’s success and outlined a more “technical” focus for the next edition of Epoch Summit. “We want people who have come to Epoch this year to experience how things are evolving,” he said. Park emphasized that the conference provides a valuable opportunity for attendees to engage in face-to-face discussions. Which can help break down complex topics that might be challenging to grasp through research papers alone.

Epoch Summit has quickly become a hub for blockchain professionals to share insights, explore collaboration, and discuss the latest technical developments in the space. As the conference looks forward to next year. Park hopes to bring even more in-depth technical sessions that will foster understanding and drive innovation in blockchain infrastructure across the APAC region and beyond.

Conclusion: Epoch Summit as a Catalyst for Blockchain Growth in APAC

Epoch Summit’s dual events in Seoul and Singapore showcased the latest in blockchain infrastructure and decentralized finance. Positioning APAC as a pivotal region for the growth of blockchain technology. By bringing together industry leaders and fostering discussions on topics ranging from Layer 1 scaling to advanced privacy techniques. The conference underscored the importance of infrastructure development in advancing blockchain’s role in the global economy.

As the blockchain space continues to evolve, Epoch Summit aims to be at the forefront. Providing a platform for innovation and collaboration. The insights shared by speakers at this year’s event have set the stage for further advancements, offering a glimpse into the future of open finance and decentralized systems.