Blast, an Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution, aims to address the Ethereum network's scalability challenges. It has attracted significant interest by securing a total value locked (TVL) of over $1.4 billion and fostering a growing ecosystem of applications and users.

Blast differentiates itself with features including native yields for ETH and stablecoins, facilitated by auto-rebasing mechanisms and collaborations with real-world asset protocols.

Blast’s testnet went live in January 2024 ahead of a planned mainnet launch in February.

Key features and innovations

• Native Yields: Blast is distinctive for offering native yields on ETH and stablecoins, a feature uncommon among layer-2 solutions. This is achieved through an auto-rebasing mechanism and integration with protocols involving real-world assets, which aims to enhance the value and efficiency of assets within its ecosystem.
• Auto Rebasing for ETH: By leveraging the Ethereum network's post-Shanghai upgrade capabilities, Blast allows for the automatic increase of ETH balances by directly transferring yields from L1 staking to users on L2. This feature aims to ensure that ETH holdings in Blast continuously grow, reflecting L1 staking yields.
• T-Bill Yield for Stablecoins: Offering an auto-rebasing stablecoin, USDB, Blast provides stablecoin holders with a unique yield sourced from real-world assets through MakerDAO’s T-Bill protocol.

Blast airdrop and tokenomics

Blast’s planned airdrop in May 2024 aims to incentivize community interaction and development within the Blast ecosystem. Significant portions of the airdrop are reserved for developers participating in the Big Bang Competition and for community engagement, promoting liquidity and user base expansion.

Developer incentives and ecosystem growth

• Big Bang Competition: Encourages developers to create applications on Blast, offering exposure to its large user base and TVL. Winners receive token rewards and the promotion of their apps to the Blast mainnet.
• Guidance and Mentorship: Participants receive personalized guidance from investors and mentorship, enhancing project success and integration into the Blast ecosystem.

Strategic backing and user engagement

With $20 million in financing from major backers including Paradigm and Standard Crypto, Blast is looking to establish itself as a leading layer-2 solution. The platform also introduces referral bonuses and potential for airdrop rewards to engage users and build a community.

Conclusion

Blast’s entry into the Ethereum layer-2 space introduces unique yield mechanisms and a community-driven approach. Its features, including auto-rebasing for ETH and T-Bill yields for stablecoins, provide a novel option for developers and users. Its focus on fostering community engagement through initiatives like the Blast Airdrop and the Big Bang Competition underscores its potential to contribute to Ethereum's scalability and DeFi innovation.

However, Blast has faced some pushback from crypto users and developers following its initial launch in November 2023. Early investor Paradigm criticized Blast’s decision to launch its bridge before the L2, and blocking withdrawals for three months, as setting “a bad precedent.” Blast co-founder Tieshun “Pacman” Roquerre has rebutted these complaints, calling them “misunderstandings.”

Roquerre previously founded Blur, which quickly catapulted ahead of OpenSea to become the top NFT marketplace in early 2023 thanks to its trading incentives; Blur has given out more than $800 million worth of tokens to traders. Blast aims to build on that momentum with a similar airdrop model, in the hopes of rapidly becoming a prominent Ethereum L2.

Editor's note: Originally published on February 8, 2024. Last updated with new information on February 14.