Cartesi 2024: A year in review

Technical advancements and achievements

Cartesi marked major achievements across security, technical integration, and appchain validators solutions as well as important progress in development resources and ecosystem funding.

Launched the Technical Evolution Plan

The Technical Evolution Plan was launched in May – an innovative approach to decentralized development, steering the protocol’s growth through community collaboration. Driven by the Technical Vision Council, it relies on input from contributors and the community to shape Cartesi’s roadmap in areas like R&D, modularity, and dApp support. This decentralized model minimizes single points of control and supports independent decision-making and a community-driven evolution of the ecosystem.

Explore the Technical Evolution Plan.

Honeypot crossed 1 million CTSI

After over a year on the Ethereum mainnet with more than 1.7 million CTSI, Cartesi’s Honeypot remains uncracked! Developed as a way to test the security of Cartesi Rollups, the Honeypot demonstrates a level of strength and security that developers can trust when building their dApps.

Learn more about the Honeypot and see if you can crack it!

Avail strategic partnership and integration

This year, we celebrated Cartesi’s collaboration with Avail, enhancing our tech stack and addressing a crucial aspect of modular blockchain architecture: data availability. This partnership boosts security and efficiency, enabling dApps to operate with improved scalability and a smoother user experience. This means developers can focus on their creative visions without getting bogged down in data complexities.

Read more about this collaboration. Check out the winners of the Avail x Cartesi joint track at ETHGlobal Bangkok.

Espresso integration

In 2024, Cartesi formed a pivotal technical partnership with Espresso Systems, collaborating to test Espresso’s sequencer and data availability capabilities to optimize input handling for Cartesi chains. Cartesi also served as Espresso’s launch partner during their mainnet announcement, marking a significant milestone for both projects. With Espresso’s full integration, Cartesi Rollups are set to power high-volume, high-speed applications, bringing effortless scalability to data-intensive dApps. The impact is already clear, with three pioneering dApps leading the way:

• DCA.Monster – the premier decentralized platform for dollar-cost averaging into any token or real-world asset with cross-chain support and optimal price exposure.
• The Drawing DApp – a digital space for on-chain creativity, where users can create collaborative artwork, co-monetize drawings with NFTs, enter contests, and have fun.
• Comet – co-writing platform where anyone can start the co-creation of a shared rhyme, poem, song, or story that can be minted, with profits distributed evenly among all contributors.

Read more about Cartesi’s integration with Espresso.

Push Protocol integration

Push Protocol has been integrated with Cartesi Rollups, bringing enhanced user experiences to Cartesi dApps. This integration enables real-time notifications, ensuring users stay informed about critical events like asset withdrawals, game updates, or important dApp activities. By delivering seamless, timely updates without altering the core framework, developers can now prioritize engagement and satisfaction in every interaction.

Learn more about the integration with Push Protocol.

Advancements in fraud proofs: Dave

Dave emerged this year as a game-changing fraud-proof system for dApps on Cartesi and the broader Ethereum ecosystem. Dave enables efficient, verifiable dispute resolution for off-chain computations, transforming Cartesi dApps into highly scalable and secure solutions without sacrificing trust.

This system pushes the boundaries of decentralized computation by marrying Linux's versatility with blockchain's integrity, paving the way for next-generation applications. Dave sets a new standard for reliability, empowering developers to build trustless systems with unmatched computational freedom.

Read the research paper.

Introduced the Cartesi Co-processor

The Cartesi Co-processor AVS was introduced at AVS Day Bangkok in November – a groundbreaking tool that enables Ethereum mainnet (L1) smart contracts to harness the combined capabilities of EigenLayer and Cartesi. Developers can now easily perform stateless, Linux-based off-chain computations with ease, backed by robust, restaked economic security. The Cartesi Co-processor opens up new possibilities for existing projects, enabling them to offload complex computations to Cartesi's Linux-based environment, iterate faster, and scale more efficiently.

Learn how to start developing using the pre-production mainnet Cartesi Coprocessor.

DApps & projects: Expanding the Cartesi ecosystem

Cartesi’s growing ecosystem of dApps reached new heights this year, with exciting projects launched.

Bug Buster launched on mainnet

Powered by Cartesi, Bug Buster has gone live on OP mainnet. Bug Buster brings a fully on-chain, trustless bug bounty experience to web3, enabling developers to secure their projects without the friction of third-party mediation. Bug Buster provides streamlined, dispute-free processes that gives projects full control over their security without reliance on centralized bug bounty platforms. Through automated, dispute-free payouts, Bug Buster’s on-chain logic objectively verifies exploit validity and triggers instant rewards, providing a seamless experience for both developers and hackers.

Check out Bug Buster.

RIVES launched on mainnet

RIVES – the gaming platform that brought DOOM onchain – celebrated its mainnet launch on Base. RIVES also hosted the DOOM Olympics – a week-long event offering players over $15,000 in prizes across seven challenges like "Lightning Run" and "Infallible Aim." Players submitted gameplay data on-chain, verified by Cartesi’s validators, demonstrating the potential of fully on-chain gaming.

RIVES leverages Cartesi Rollups to handle complex game logic, pushing the limits of what blockchain can do for immersive, decentralized gaming. Through RIVES, Cartesi showcased the power of Linux-based environments in creating high-performance, easy-to-build web3 games. This culminated in Rives Creator Season 1, where participants joined RIVES JAM #3 – a 2 week-long game jam to build their own cartridge, using their favorite language, for a chance at a $5000 prize pool.

Learn more about RIVES.

Second Cartesi Experiment Week and the ETHGlobal Bangkok Hackathon

Cartesi Experiment Week #2 was held in June – a week-long online hackathon that invited grantees and the broader community to explore creative use cases using Cartesi’s tech stack. With 17 teams submitting projects, it showcased the immense potential for dApps powered by Cartesi.

Machine Accelerated Kernels nabbed first place, demonstrating how Large Language Model (LLM) inference can be integrated into Cartesi Machines, leveraging host CPUs for specialized computations. Second place went to Comet, a co-writing platform where contributors collaborate on creative works like poems and songs, with transparent profit-sharing. Tied for third were Organic Yield Farming, a project introducing innovative tokenomics with yield/inflation auctions, and OnChess, a blockchain-based chess game emphasizing fair and transparent gameplay.

Read the Cartesi Experiment Week 2 recap. Watch it here.

Hosted two tracks at the ETHGlobal Bangkok Hackathon

In November, Cartesi hosted two tracks at the ETHGlobal Bangkok Hackathon: Build a dApp with Cartesi Rollups and Build a dApp with Avail Integration. Participants were challenged to integrate Cartesi’s Linux VM and Avail Protocol for scalable, data-efficient dApps. Success relied on idea validation, time management, and effective presentation skills. The winners were: Ka-Ching – used AI to spot fraudulent wallets with a gamified gas fee mechanism. Commit, which created an event app with a staking mechanism to prevent no-shows using Cartesi’s complex filters. And in bronze, Backpacker, which rewarded travelers with tokens for reviews via Federated Learning, maintaining privacy.

These projects highlight the versatility of Cartesi technology and the innovative power of its community. Cartesi Experiment Week drove advancements in AI, gaming, tokenomics, and collaborative platforms. The community looks forward to seeing these ideas evolve.

Learn more about Cartesi’s tracks at the ETHGlobal Bangkok Hackathon.

Cartesi Grants Program funded another year of innovation

Throughout 2024, the Cartesi Grants Program provided ongoing funding for developer projects and contributions to the Cartesi dApp ecosystem. It has been crucial in growing Cartesi’s ecosystem and supporting innovative ideas in decentralized development. The ongoing program offers financial support for creative and impactful projects across multiple domains.

In Wave 1, six grantees received $191,000 in funding. Wave 2 introduces Intents, guiding the community’s strategic direction with a budget of up to $500,000. Applicants can align with Intents via RFPs or Community Proposals, gaining technical, marketing, and community support. Whether you’re a developer or community member, there are multiple ways to engage, including through DevDrop and VoterDrop incentive programs.

Find out more about Wave 2.

Introduced the Validator Marketplace

The Validator Marketplace was born – a game-changing platform connecting dApps with a decentralized pool of validators. This solution makes validation more accessible and cost-effective, addressing the challenges of securing reliable validation without the headache of managing complex infrastructure.

Powered by CTSI, the marketplace encourages validators to stake and participate, while allowing non-technical community members to delegate their tokens, earn rewards, and support promising dApps. This milestone not only advances Cartesi’s appchain model but also serves as a blueprint for validation solutions across blockchain ecosystems.

Explore the Validator Marketplace.

Cartesi community moments: Growing together

Of course, none of this progress would be without the Cartesi community. We’re thrilled by the achievements and engagements that reflect our commitment to growing an inclusive, collaborative ecosystem, and we have our community to thank.

Educating the next generation of developers

Cartesi sponsored a one-month masterclass in Nigeria, in collaboration with Web3Bridge. The masterclass aimed at upskilling the next generation of Web3 developers. Web3Bridge’s masterclasses are among Africa's premier programs for onboarding new talent into Web3 development. This initiative empowered developers to explore decentralized technologies like Cartesi in practical, hands-on environments.

On another front, Cartesi’s university outreach in Brazil is flourishing, with over 100 students enrolled across multiple universities, led by Professor Antonio Rocha from the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). In its second year, this educational initiative builds on an introductory course covering blockchain fundamentals, Linux basics, and Cartesi’s unique technology stack, tailored to bring a new generation of developers into the web3 space.

Through these courses, students gain practical, hands-on experience with Cartesi’s infrastructure, focusing on real-world applications of blockchain. These programs exemplify Cartesi’s commitment to education and collaboration, aiming to empower the next wave of blockchain developers.

Cartesi also offers free Udemy courses for developers focusing on building dApps with Python and Rust. Additionally, there is the Cartesi Masterclass, which provides a comprehensive overview of Cartesi's technology stack. These courses offer hands-on experience to equip developers with the skills to start building dApps on Cartesi.

Check out these tutorials on building dApps on Cartesi with different programming languages.

Committed to making blockchain ‘Radically Simple’

Cartesi launched Radically Simple, an initiative expressing the ecosystem’s commitment to making blockchain development simple and accessible. The campaign showcased Cartesi’s dedication to breaking down the backend complexities that often stifle innovation, empowering developers to unleash their creativity. It isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a return to the core principles that underpin Cartesi’s vision of a decentralized internet.

To support this mission, we rolled out a variety of resources—everything from guides to masterclasses—to help builders navigate the Cartesi ecosystem and push the boundaries of dApp development.

Learn more about the Radically Simple campaign and why it matters.

Launched the “I build, therefore I am” podcast

The Cartesi Developer Advocacy Unit launch I build, therefore I am – a podcast that dives into the transformative potential of the modular blockchain revolution. This series explores the intersections of decentralized technologies, developer insights, and real-world applications, featuring thought leaders and developers building the future of Web3.

Tune into the podcast.

Hosted the great debate on modular security at EthCC

At EthCC Brussels, we hosted a dynamic debate on modular security and the future of secure blockchain infrastructure, with leaders from Espresso, Scroll, and Avail, moderated by Bankless host David Hoffman. Then we explored how to revolutionize fraud proofs with Celestia, Optimism, Ethereum Foundation, and Offchain Labs. By hosting these critical conversations, we illustrated the Cartesi commitment to pioneering new solutions and collaborating with industry leaders to protect blockchain’s future.

Watch the debate, livestreamed by The Defiant.

Hosted Back to the Future event series

In collaboration with Espresso, Cartesi hosted the “Back to the Future” event series, held at key industry gatherings throughout the year. Starting at ETHDenver, the series explored blockchain’s evolution, featuring talks like "From World Computer to World Cloud" by Carsten Munk and an insightful Ethereum 2033 Panel. At EthCC Brussels, the focus shifted to modularity and the “Bitcoin Layer 2 Craze”, sparking discussions on what comes next in the industry.

The latest edition was held in conjunction with Devcon in Bangkok, showcasing Cartesi dApps like Drawing Canvas, Comet, and DCA Monster, integrated with Espresso and the “Battle of the VMs” debate, moderated by Espresso and featuring thought leaders from Movement Labs, Fuel, Catalyst, and more.

Watch the panels.

Major talks on the Devcon stage

Cartesi’s innovative contributions to blockchain scalability and security were showcased through two impactful talks at Devcon 2024. Felipe Argento highlighted the advantages of tailored gas metering in appchain rollups compared to general-purpose rollups, emphasizing how non-adversarial settings enable greater efficiency and design freedom. Check out Felipe’s summary.

Gabriel Coutinho de Paula and Augusto Teixeira introduced Dave, a groundbreaking fraud-proof algorithm that defends against Sybil attacks with minimal collateral requirements, ensuring robust security, decentralization, and settlement liveness. Read Gabriel’s summary.

Plenty done, plenty more to go

It’s been a remarkable year, and while we’ve achieved so much, there’s even more in store in 2025.

Stay up to date by joining our Ecosystem Recap calls on the first Monday of each month.

Join the Cartesi community.