Forward the original title ‘A 3-Minute Guide to Converge: Testnet Launch Coming Soon’

On April 17, the crypto project Converge jointly released preliminary technical specifications and development roadmap by Ethena Labs and Securitize. As an innovative platform designed to bridge traditional finance (TradFi) and DeFi, Converge focuses on high performance, institutional-level security and user-friendliness. It plans to launch the mainnet this year and promote the implementation of large-scale financial applications. This article will break down Converge’s technical specifications, roadmap highlights, and potential impact.

(Left is Securitize CEO, right is Ethena Labs CEO)

1. Jointly developed by Ethena Labs and financial technology company Securitize

Converge is a collaborative effort between Ethena Labs and fintech company Securitize, positioned as a high-throughput blockchain network focused on supporting the tokenization of real-world assets and DeFi applications. The project aims to attract institutional capital into the crypto ecosystem through technological innovation and regulatory compliance, while offering efficient DeFi experiences to retail users. Its core vision is to break the barriers between traditional and crypto finance, fostering capital flow and global integration of interest rate markets.

Ethena Labs has accumulated rich DeFi experience with the rapid growth of USDe (the market value once exceeded US$6 billion, ranking the third largest stablecoin), while Securitize has deep compliance and technical expertise in the field of asset tokenization. The cooperation between the two gives Converge a unique advantage: it can not only meet the stringent requirements of institutions for security and compliance, but also provide the openness and innovation of DeFi.

2. High-performance EVM chain with USDe and USDtb as Gas fees

The Converge Network will support both permissionless DeFi applications and permissioned institutional-grade products, achieving the integration of traditional financial and cryptographic infrastructure on the same chain. Converge’s technical architecture is designed around the three pillars of performance, security and user experience. The following is a detailed interpretation of its core technical specifications:

High performance EVM

Converge adopts an architecture based on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) to ensure compatibility with the existing DeFi ecosystem, while achieving ultra-high performance through customized optimization. The network will achieve native block times of 100 milliseconds at launch and a maximum throughput of 100 million gas/second (Mgas/s). The roadmap shows that by the fourth quarter of 2025, block times will be further reduced to 50 milliseconds, and throughput is expected to reach 1 billion gas/second (Gigagas/s). This performance metric far exceeds most existing Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks and is sufficient to support large-scale financial transactions and complex smart contract execution.

Arbitrum and Celestia integration

Converge achieves low latency and high scalability by integrating Arbitrum’s rollup technology and Celestia’s data availability layer. Arbitrum provides an efficient transaction processing and smart contract execution environment, while Celestia reduces network costs by decoupling data storage, ensuring transaction fees are stable and predictable. This modular design allows Converge to balance performance with cost, making it ideal for institutional applications.

Stablecoin as Gas fee

To enhance user experience, Converge uses stablecoins like USDe and USDtb for gas fees instead of traditional volatile native tokens. This design allows users to estimate and pay transaction fees in USD terms, eliminating uncertainty from crypto price volatility. Additionally, the network supports the ERC-7702 account abstraction standard, simplifying wallet operations and eliminating pain points around ERC-20 token approvals and complex gas management.

Converge Validator Network (CVN)

Converge introduces a unique Validator Network (CVN) that secures the network through staking Ethena’s ENA tokens. CVN adopts a permissioned verifier model (PoS, permission set), combined with a KYC/KYB (Know Your Customer/Business) mechanism to ensure that verifiers meet compliance requirements. This design is specifically targeted at institutional users to meet their risk management and compliance needs. At the same time, the network adopts a two-layer architecture: the core network strictly controls access rights, and the application layer supports optional permission-free interfaces to provide developers with flexibility. In order to participate in CVN, validators must stake Ethena’s governance token, ENA. The team stated that CVN will be launched shortly after the launch of the mainnet.

Custom G2 sequencer

Converge uses the G2 sequencer customized by Conduit, integrated with the Arbitrum technology stack, to provide efficient transaction sequencing and confirmation. This sequencer is a key component in achieving 100 millisecond block times and ultra-high throughput, ensuring network stability under high load scenarios.

3. Testnet launched in coming weeks, mainnet planned for Q2

Converge also announced its 2025 roadmap, which clearly outlines the key milestones from testnet deployment to mainnet launch, divided into the following stages:

2025 Q2: Testnet Launch

The testnet is expected to be launched in the next few weeks to provide developers with early access opportunities to test network performance, smart contract deployment and user interaction functions. The testnet will focus on verifying the actual performance of 100 millisecond block times and stablecoin Gas fees.

2025 Q2: Mainnet Launch

Securitize CEO Carlos Domingo said in an interview that Converge plans to launch the mainnet before the end of the second quarter. The mainnet will support institutional and retail users, with an initial focus on promoting institutional-level distribution of USDe (such as through special purpose vehicles SPV) and the development of DeFi applications.

2025 Q4: Performance Upgrades

By the end of 2025, Converge plans to reduce block times to 50 milliseconds and increase throughput to 1Gigagas/s to meet the needs of tokenized assets and real-time financial transactions. In addition, the network will introduce more developer tools, such as enhanced account abstraction functions and smart contract templates, to lower the development barriers.

4. Conclusion

Converge’s launch comes at a time when traditional finance and DeFi are converging. Its high-performance architecture and compliance-focused design give it distinct advantages for institutional adoption. For instance, Franklin Templeton CEO Jenny Johnson stated in January 2025 that clear regulatory frameworks will drive TradFi and DeFi integration, and Converge’s KYC/KYB mechanisms and permissioned validator model directly address this trend.

However, Converge also faces challenges. The permissioned validator model may raise community concerns about centralization risks. Although its application layer supports permissionless interfaces, control of the core network is still concentrated in the hands of a few validators. In addition, the achievement of high-performance goals relies on the stability of Arbitrum and Celestia, and any technical bottlenecks may impact the roadmap progress.

Converge represents an opportunity that combines technological innovation with practical application potential. However, its success still needs time to be tested, especially in terms of regulatory environment, technical stability and ecosystem competition. Converge’s performance in the coming year will certainly be worth watching closely.

Disclaimer:

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