It will go down in History as one of the best events this space as seen.
PLUS: A proposal for Ethereum's next upgrade, UCLA teaming up with DWF Labs for educational initiatives, and so much more.
Alright, frens— the entire university blockchain scene cooked at the Midwest Blockchain Conference. What a time to be alive: markets were green, Ross was buzzing with pro-crypto energy (did we set a record for turnout?!), and industry titans were dropping alpha left and right about what 2025 might look like for blockchain.
From the buzzing rooms of the Solana workshop to packed auditoriums and panels, the vibes were immaculate.
Big congrats to the winners of the Franklin Templeton Research Competition! Your pitches? Chef’s kiss. Truly next-level stuff✨
We had over 500 students turn out. Hands down, probably the best student event of the year. If you missed it, you’ll be hearing about it for the next decade.
And one more thing—WHERE ARE WE GOING NEXT YEAR?? 🤔 Only time (and some serious alpha) will tell. But here's the tea: it’s barely been a week since the Midwest Blockchain Conference, and we’re already back in the lab cooking up some wild opportunities for the future. 🔥🧪
Next stop? ETH Denver. 👀 Are we running College Fest back? Oh, you bet. Start clearing your calendars now—bigger, better, and degen-ier than ever. 🦄✨
ETH Makeover on the horizon?
At Devcon in Bangkok, Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake introduced plans to update Ethereum’s consensus algorithm with a proposal called "Beam Chain."
Ethereum operates on a two-layer structure: the consensus layer (currently called the Beacon Chain) and the execution layer. Think of the consensus layer as Ethereum’s "backbone"—it keeps track of who owns what, manages staking, and ensures the network agrees on the state of the blockchain. The execution layer, on the other hand, is the "action hub" where users submit transactions, deploy smart contracts, and interact with decentralized applications (dApps).
Justin Drake’s Beam Chain proposal focuses on upgrading the consensus layer, aiming to address outdated infrastructure and improve Ethereum's speed, security, and decentralization. For example, the update would integrate zk-SNARKs (a cryptographic technique) to boost privacy and scalability while also making transactions faster. Additionally, Beam Chain is designed to protect against future threats like quantum computing, which could potentially crack existing encryption methods. By lowering the staking requirement from 32 ETH to 1 ETH, it also encourages broader participation, making Ethereum more decentralized.
While the update focuses on addressing technical debt and optimizing Ethereum's infrastructure, critics have expressed concerns about the proposed five-year timeline, which could delay major roadmap milestones until 2029.
Universities Finding Their Footing in the Blockchain Era
At the Midwest Blockchain Conference, a panel explored how blockchain is steadily making its way into academic curriculums, with universities actively figuring out how to lead this transformative shift through labs, courses, and new opportunities. A prime example is DWF Labs’ partnership with UCLA, which focuses on tokenized securities education. Through case studies and initiatives like The STO Financial Revolution, DWF aims to advance understanding of tokenization and Security Token Offerings (STOs), bridging traditional finance and blockchain.
The RWA tokenization sector, encompassing tokenized securities and assets, could see explosive growth—potentially exceeding $30 trillion by 2030, according to major consulting firms. Educational institutions like UCLA are preparing students to navigate this shift, equipping them with the skills needed for a blockchain-driven financial future.
It’s happening, folks—the long journey to onboard the next billion users is finally recognizing the massive role education plays in making it a reality.
For the Students, By the Degens ⚡️
Skip the lecture, catch the alpha. 2.8k+ students trust us to transform frontier tech research/information into bite-sized technical insights. This is your go-to for the weekly 5-minute power-up on frontier tech.
Unsubscribe anytime – but if something's not hitting different, slide into our DMs first and let us know how we can do better. We're here to build together 🤝
Web3 Jobs & Internships
🔗 Ledger Product Analytics Engineer Intern
🔗 Coinbase Associate Product Manager Intern
🔗 Coinbase Software Engineer Intern
🔗 Monad Summer 2025 Research Intern
🔗 CoinGecko Product Manager Intern (NFT & GT)
⚡️ Your Job Search, Optimized
We know how it goes - endless applications, generic responses, and that LinkedIn anxiety. But we've built something different: a system that actually helps you land roles where you'll build meaningful things.
Think of us as your career co-pilots. We'll help optimize your entire process - from resume reviews to interview prep - while sending cutting-edge opportunities your way.
We’re also here to assist you with resume advice, career guidance, interview preparation, networking strategies, and more 👇
Key Thought Leader Highlight:
Lauren Weymouth, Director at Ripple, leads the University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI), a groundbreaking program funding fintech curriculum development, research, technical projects, entrepreneurship, and student activities. At the Midwest Blockchain Conference, we had the privilege of hearing her share the story of UBRI, and we couldn’t miss the chance to highlight her. Lauren is not only a fantastic advocate for blockchain education but also an incredible resource for students looking to get involved in the space.
Since UBRI’s launch, Lauren has spearheaded partnerships with over 50 universities globally, driving 1,000+ research projects tackling real-world challenges in blockchain, cryptocurrency, cryptography, and digital assets. Before Ripple, she held leadership roles across education, private equity, and tech startups, where she spearheaded ventures that delivered record-breaking results.
Some scenes from the Infinite Hacker House
While the Midwest Blockchain Conference was popping off in Michigan, halfway across the world, the Infinite Hacker House was on fire. 🔥 Homies were deep in the trenches, hacking away and pushing the boundaries of AVS innovation like the legends they are.
Here’s a sneak peek at the vibes: brilliance, chaos, and probably more energy drinks than is medically advised 🧪⚡
That being said… it’s been a wild few weeks, and we’ve been absolutely killing it. Thanksgiving break is just around the corner, so hang in there—we’re almost there.
Until then, keep hustling, keep building, and keep growing. We’re proud of all the energy you’re bringing to the space.
One Last Thing... Found this helpful? You know the drill - pass it on. Whether it's your study group's Discord, your degen trading chat, or just that one friend who's always asking you to explain Web3 - sharing is caring.
Building the future is better together. See you next week 🫂