Kasplex recently launched and announced its public testnet. Anyone can stress-test the network by deploying smart contracts and live DeFi protocols. As Kaplex states, 

“We invite the broader community to actively engage with the testnet, report bugs, and help refine performance, tooling, and reliability.” 

Moreover, users can claim 50 Kasplex L2 KAS every 24 hours from the testnet faucet, KAS Testnet Faucet; no authentication is required.

The Kaspa Ecosystem Fund (KEF) plays a vital role in advancing the long-term development and adoption of the Kaspa network. By funding research, infrastructure, and real-world applications, KEF helps drive innovation across the ecosystem. One of its key projects is Kasplex, an open-source, community-driven, nonprofit infrastructure project designed to extend Kaspa’s capabilities. Kasplex enables features such as KRC-20 tokens, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and scalable data management. As a KEF-backed initiative, Kasplex represents a monumental component for expanding the Kaspa ecosystem and unlocking new use cases.

Kasplex is the first Layer 2 zkEVM solution developed to bring advanced smart contract functionality to the Kaspa network. Operating as a Based Rollup, Kasplex leverages Kaspa’s Layer 1 for transaction sequencing and data availability, ensuring it stays aligned with the base layer’s consensus. By integrating Kaspa’s DAG-based architecture, Kasplex inherits the network’s high throughput, decentralization, and resistance to censorship. It also supports full EVM equivalence, allowing Ethereum-native dApps to run seamlessly. Zero-knowledge proofs (zk-SNARKs) are used to verify execution securely, while integration with Kaspa’s GHOSTDAG protocol enables fair ordering and near-instant finality. These combined features position Kasplex as a powerful and scalable smart contract layer within the broader Kaspa ecosystem.

Kasplex employs a Based Rollup design, meaning transaction sequencing is handled directly by Kaspa’s Layer 1 network rather than a separate Layer 2 mechanism or centralized sequencer. This approach reinforces decentralization, maintains economic alignment with Layer 1, and strengthens resistance to censorship.

On Kasplex, Layer 2 transactions are initially submitted to the Layer 1 network, where Kaspa miners determine their order. This sequencing process follows Kaspa’s Virtual Selected Parent Chain, ensuring that the Layer 2 remains fully synchronized with Layer 1’s consensus protocol.

Once ordered, the Layer 2 executes only those transactions validated by Layer 1 and produces a state update along with a zero-knowledge proof. Notably, Kasplex avoids the need for an independent consensus layer, simplifying the architecture and reducing potential points of failure.

Kasplex introduces a dual-layer gas fee structure designed to enhance cost efficiency and incentivize active participation across its network. On the base layer (Layer 1), fees are paid to Kaspa miners for processing and including transactions in the DAG. These fees are dynamically adjusted based on network activity and transaction size. On the second layer (Layer 2), a fixed gas price is applied to smart contract execution, with fees paid in bridged KAS.

This model offers distinct economic advantages: miners benefit from an added revenue stream driven by smart contract usage, while users enjoy stable and predictable Layer 2 fees—even during periods of high congestion on the Kaspa mainnet.

Kaspa Featured in Forbes

On May 29, 2025, Tel Aviv-based investor Timer Niv published an article on Forbes entitled “Kaspa: The Israeli Answer to Scaling Bitcoin.”  While the headline doesn’t quite capture the full breadth of what Kaspa represents, it’s exciting to see the project receive coverage on a major platform like Forbes.

The article introduces readers to blockDAG technology, specifically Kaspa’s GHOSTDAG protocol, along with the KAS token and the core team driving its development. It walks through the evolution of proof-of-work (PoW) consensus, which traditionally prioritized security over speed, and shows how projects like Litecoin, Bitcoin Cash, Monero, and especially Kaspa have attempted to improve upon that foundation.

Niv explains how Kaspa enables parallel block creation, which enhances both speed and security—effectively addressing the blockchain trilemma of scalability, security, and decentralization. Notably, the article acknowledges Kaspa’s fair launch: no ICO, no pre-mined tokens, and no venture capital favoritism.

The piece goes on to highlight Kaspa’s recent upgrade from 1 block per second (BPS) to 10 BPS, an important milestone in throughput. It also touches on the network’s community-driven growth and increasing miner participation.

As the article puts it:

“Kaspa’s network security is secured by thousands of GPUs and ASICs around the world, and its community continues to push development forward. Recent upgrades have expanded Kaspa’s functionality.”

Publicly traded Marathon Digital Holdings also gets a mention for having mined 16 million USD worth of KAS, and the article even nods to the launch of KRC-20 tokens as part of the network’s progress.

While the title never circles back to fully explain what it means by “scaling Bitcoin,” the article closes on a positive and thoughtful note:

“Kaspa offers a useful case study in protocol design—one that may inform future research on scaling secure, decentralized networks.”

Although it may not be the most in-depth piece for seasoned crypto enthusiasts, the article serves as a great primer for those new to Kaspa and the broader world of blockchain. It’s encouraging to see financial media starting to catch on.

Check out the full article—and share it with a friend who’s ready to learn about Kaspa.

Rusty Kaspa Workshop #3

The third Rusty Kaspa (RK) workshop will take place on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at 19:30 UTC in the “Meeting Stage” channel of the Kaspa Discord.

This session will offer an introductory walkthrough of key performance aspects in Rusty Kaspa, including pruning inefficiencies, potential header compression strategies, and other storage and bandwidth optimizations—time permitting. The workshop is designed for proficient developers new to Kaspa who want to make meaningful contributions to non-critical optimization tasks.

Expect a detailed dive into the codebase, accompanied by ample background information to help newcomers get up to speed and start contributing. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn directly from the core team and help improve one of the fastest proof-of-work networks in the world. 

Kaspa Python SDK is now on PyPI

Developers working in Python can now build with Kaspa more easily than ever. The new Kaspa Python SDK, built from Rusty-Kaspa using PyO3 and Maturin is now live on PyPi. It follows the structure of the WASM SDK and supports wrpc client access, transaction creation, and key management. Whether you're creating bots, building data-driven tools, or rapidly prototyping, this SDK brings the speed and power of Kaspa directly to your Python environment.

The Python Package Index (PyPI) is the official repository for Python software packages. It hosts thousands of open-source libraries and tools that Python developers can easily install and integrate into their projects using the pip command. Special thanks to Supertypo, as the maintainer of the Kaspa SDK project. 

Download and installation instructions can be found on PyPI. Install it today and start building! 

Zealous Swaps Testnet is Live

Zealous Swap is the first automated market maker (AMM) decentralized exchange (DEX) on the Kaspa blockchain, designed to bring DeFi capabilities such as token swaps and liquidity pools to the network. Unlike traditional order book exchanges, AMMs use liquidity pools, allowing users to trade instantly and provide liquidity permissionlessly.

Development is underway on multiple fronts, as the Zealous team has deployed versions of the protocol on both the Igra Labs and Kasplex devnets, offering early access to test functionality and provide feedback. The Zealous Swap testnet is live at kasplex-testnet.zealousswap.com, and anyone interested in participating is welcome to join the official Telegram community to get involved.

The platform features a sleek, user-friendly interface designed for both beginner and advanced traders, with future improvements in the pipeline. Zealous Swap also introduces a unique NFT-based fee discount model. Holders of NACHO KAT NFTs benefit from a reduced 0.2% swap fee (with 0.17% going to liquidity providers and 0.03% to the protocol treasury). Standard users pay 0.3% per swap (0.25% to LPs, 0.05% to the treasury). This approach rewards early adopters and encourages community participation. 

Built with sustainability in mind, the protocol features a built-in insurance fund and protocol-owned liquidity, which strengthens its long-term resilience.

Zealous Swap’s native token, ZEAL, was listed on CoinEx on May 30, 2025, marking a milestone in its broader exposure to the crypto community.

While the project has generated a wave of interest, some in the community have raised questions about the presale and token distribution. As with any new protocol, it’s important to do your own research (DYOR), confirm information via official sources, and remain cautious of scams. To learn more about the Zealous Swaps team, check out the XXIM X space talk, where founder Louis recently joined Ankit to discuss Zealous Swap’s vision and progress.

Kaspa Finance (KFC) Testnet is Live

Kaspa Finance has been active on X.com since April 2025 and is building the future of DeFi on Kasplex, Kaspa’s EVM-compatible Layer 2. The project is being developed by the Web3 Geeks team based in Dubai, the same group behind Leap Chain and Leap Protocol. Their logo features an eye-catching, one-eyed ghost—adding a playful touch to their serious mission.

The community response has been largely positive, with many excited to see more projects emerging in the Kaspa ecosystem. At the same time, some have voiced understandable caution, as Kaspa Finance is still a new initiative. We echo both sentiments: it's great to see growth, but always do your own research and HODL your KAS wisely.

To sign up to be a tester, fill out the onboarding form here: KaspaFinance.io Kasplex zkEVM Testnet - Onboarding form

P2P Encrypted Messages on Kaspa

A recent update to Kaspa’s encrypted peer-to-peer messaging system introduces support for image and file transfers over the network. The system uses a hybrid encryption model—Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) for key exchange and ChaCha20-Poly1305 for message encryption—providing secure, end-to-end communication directly on Kaspa’s Layer 1.

While the interface may appear slow due to testnet API limitations, messages are received instantly by the recipient. This feature highlights Kaspa’s potential for secure, decentralized communication tools.

Special thanks to @IzioDev and @auzghosty for their continued contributions to this project. Although each message currently costs around 0.1 KAS, further improvements are likely as development continues.

Igra Devnet Access

Igra Network's builder community is growing rapidly, with 34 developers across 21 teams now active in the dev Discord, working on a range of projects, including analytics tools, bridges, stablecoins, and perpetual DEXs. While the original idea was to select 10 teams for closed devnet access, the current number is unknown as interest continues to grow. To be considered for early access and stay in the loop for future development opportunities, submit your project here.

Igra Labs is the core team behind Igra Network, a modular, high-performance blockchain project that focuses on enabling advanced DeFi primitives, including perpetual DEXs, stablecoins, and cross-chain bridges. With a strong emphasis on developer experience and scalability, Igra Labs is building the infrastructure to support complex applications at the speed and scale needed for global adoption.

To read more about Igra Labs, please see our interview, titled An Igra Labs Interview: A Bright Kaspa Future and a Dark Bitcoin Past.

FTX Recovery Distribution

Starting Friday, May 30, 2025, the FTX Recovery Trust will begin distributing 5 billion USD in recovered funds to former customers. FTX’s collapse in November 2022 stemmed from a major liquidity crisis and allegations of fund mismanagement. Kaspa was never listed on FTX, and as such, wasn’t directly affected by the exchange’s downfall. Still, this fresh injection of liquidity into the broader crypto ecosystem could give some in the community a little extra firepower — and maybe a reason to load up on some KAS.