Weekly Trending Crypto Projects: Sei EVM Support, OKX Discontinues Runes & More (May 18–24)

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1. SEC Delays Multiple Crypto ETF Approvals, Accepts Staked TRX Application

The U.S. SEC has postponed reviews for several crypto ETFs, including Bitwise/CoinShares' XRP ETF, Litecoin ETF, and Fidelity’s Bitcoin ETF. Concurrently, Canary Funds’ Staked TRX ETF application entered formal review. Analysts note this aligns with SEC’s cautious stance toward crypto investment products.


2. Berachain’s HONEY Stablecoin Temporarily Unredeemable Due to USDC.e Depletion

HONEY’s interface shows USDC.e reserves are depleted, limiting redemptions to BYUSD. Berachain co-founder Smokey confirmed HONEY remains fully collateralized (98.8M BYUSD vs. <$1 USDC.e). Users can bridge BYUSD to Ethereum for conversions via Curve or exchanges like Coinbase and OKX.

👉 Explore decentralized stablecoin strategies


3. Sei Labs Unveils Giga Whitepaper: EVM-Compatible L1 with Multi-Proposer Architecture

Sei’s Giga upgrade proposes a high-throughput EVM Layer 1 blockchain featuring:


4. Polygon Co-Founder Mihailo Bjelic Steps Down Amid Vision Misalignment

Bjelic announced his departure from active roles at Polygon Labs and Foundation, marking the third co-founder exit since 2022. His exit follows Jaynti Kanani (2023) and Anurag Arjun (2022), signaling leadership restructuring as Polygon advances its AggLayer roadmap.


5. Pump Fun Token Manipulation Exposed: Proxies Robots Drive 60–80% Fake Volume

Analysts reveal "Proxies" bots artificially inflate meme coin trading volume through:


6. Hyperliquid Labs Advocates for DeFi Perpetuals in CFTC Submission

The DeFi platform urged CFTC to recognize 24/7 trading benefits, emphasizing:


7. Lido V3 Draft Proposes stVaults for Modular Ethereum Staking

The RFC introduces stVaults—isolated staking positions separating node operations from liquidity layers. Key goals:

👉 Learn about advanced staking solutions


8. Succinct Announces PROVE Token for ZK Proof Network

Backed by Paradigm’s $55M funding, Succinct will issue PROVE to power its decentralized ZK verification network. The testnet progresses toward mainnet, with incentives for proof validators and developers building with SP1 zkVM.


9. OKX Web3 Wallet to Discontinue Runes Market Support by June 2025

OKX will sunset Runes trading functionality but maintain asset displays/transfers. The Bitcoin-based token standard (via UTXO/OP_RETURN) remains accessible through other wallets supporting Casey Rodarmor’s protocol.


10. Binance Launchpool Lists Huma Finance (HUMA) PayFi Platform

HUMA tokenomics:


FAQ

Q: Why did the SEC delay crypto ETF approvals again?
A: The SEC typically extends review periods to assess market manipulation risks and custody solutions—standard procedure for novel asset classes.

Q: Is HONEY stablecoin safe despite USDC.e depletion?
A: Yes, its BYUSD collateral remains sufficient, though redemption options are temporarily limited.

Q: What makes Sei’s EVM different?
A: Multi-proposer parallelization enables near-instant finality while supporting existing Solidity contracts.

Q: How to identify Pump Fun proxy bots?
A: Look for mismatched volume/order book depth and repetitive small trades clustered in short timeframes.

Q: Will Lido V3 replace current stETH?
A: No, stVaults will coexist, offering specialized staking without disrupting existing liquidity.

Q: When can PROVE token holders stake?
A: After mainnet launch (~Q3 2024), with testnet rewards convertible to PROVE.


Disclaimer: This content is informational only and does not constitute financial advice. Comply with local regulations regarding digital assets.