Ethereum was initially designed with the idea that a single party would handle the entire process of block creation. This entailed aggregating transactions from the mempool, crafting the block header, and either finding the golden nonce in proof of work or simply signing the block header in proof of stake. For its initial years, block building was straightforward: mining nodes pulled transactions from their mempool, ordered them based on gas price, which signifies the computational work of each transaction, and stayed within the gas limit per block. However, with the rise of decentralized finance (DeFi), this approach to block building has undergone significant changes.

We are on the cusp of a revolutionary shift in the Ethereum landscape. Applications once considered unfeasible due to the network's limited throughput are about to become viable. The tradeoff between scalability, decentralization, and security, known as the blockchain trilemma, has long been a characteristic of blockchain networks. Ethereum chose to prioritize decentralization and security, amassing nearly 1 million validators and making a 51% attack prohibitively expensive (it would cost over $1 billion). However, this focus came at the cost of scalability. During peak usage, Ethereum transaction fees have soared to over $300. Even in the depths of a bear market, interacting with a smart contract could cost several dollars. Vitalik Buterin once famously stated that "the internet of money should not cost more than 5 cents per transaction." Fortunately, Ethereum has been striving for scalable solutions since its inception.

Rollups this, rollups that – you've probably know that they're a way to scale Ethereum, but what exactly is a rollup? How does it work in a technical sense that's still accessible to understand? That's what this post aims to explain.

The aim of this tutorial is to demonstrate how to use the Sismo Connect Server Library to create a mini private "Only Fans" application. The main feature you're aiming for is to validate if a user owns a certain NFT (Pudgy Penguins, in this case) and offer them a discount based on their holdings. This project preserves user privacy and security using Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZK Proofs) and offchain verification.

Six months have elapsed since OpenAI released ChatGPT. As an open-access online chatbot, ChatGPT enables users to pose questions and seek content. Within two months of its public launch in late November 2022, ChatGPT exceeded 100 million monthly users, thus setting a record as the fastest-growing web application globally. This sparked an intense discussion about AI, with OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, even addressing the topic in front of Congress earlier this month. The world buzzes with speculation and debate, focusing particularly on the potential for AI to induce massive job losses due to the productivity surge that large language models (LLMs) could instigate. While this long-term concern may have some basis, I contend that in the short term, this technology will not merely refrain from replacing you but will also assist you in acquiring the skills for your dream job.

Imagine owning all your social media data, seamlessly importing it from one app to another. No more losing followers when switching platforms or getting locked out by a site's whims. Welcome to the power of Web3 social media—a game-changer for creators. You can carry your followers, posts, and comments with you while monetizing your content like never before.

First, I would like to begin this post by paying tribute to Takeoff. RIP and thank you for inspiring the title of this piece. As the Arbitrum airdrop is set to launch tomorrow, I wanted to create a post explaining the concept of an airdrop and its significance. Most cryptocurrency companies generate revenue by utilizing a token that enables token holders to vote on company decisions. This establishes a flat, democratic structure where each token represents a vote. A unique aspect of tokens is the practice of distributing them to early adopters through a process known as an "airdrop."

Countless articles discuss why blockchains embody freedom technology, but I want to offer my distinct perspective. Our story starts with the first financial crisis in 2008, as we might be navigating a second one now. When depositing money in a bank, your banking app displays your balance, but did you know the entire sum isn't physically in the bank? Before 2008, large banks needed to hold only 10% of these funds. However, since the COVID pandemic, this requirement has dropped to 0%. Theoretically, if everyone requested their money back, the bank couldn't provide it.