Converge Blockchain to Launch in Q2 2025, Pioneering Real-World Asset Integration with Unique Data Availability Model

A new blockchain network named Converge, developed by decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol Ethena Labs and tokenization firm Securitize, is slated for a Q2 2025 mainnet launch. The initiative aims to bridge traditional finance (TradFi) with DeFi by facilitating the on-chain processing of real-world assets (RWAs), with over $7 billion in assets from its founding entities set to migrate to the new network.

Converge adopts an innovative architectural approach, leveraging Arbitrum, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution, and Celestia for its data availability layer. This design allows Converge to "outsource da but stay an l1," as noted by blockchain observer sacha 🦣 on social media, referring to the outsourcing of data availability while maintaining a Layer 1-like functionality for application development. While the project operates as a Validium (a type of rollup that handles data availability off-chain), it seeks to offer the robust environment typically associated with a base layer blockchain.

The strategic vision behind Converge is to create a high-performance, EVM-compatible environment capable of supporting both permissionless DeFi applications and regulated institutional products. Ethena's synthetic dollar USDe and tokenized Treasury-backed USDtb will serve as gas tokens, ensuring predictable and low transaction costs, a significant advantage for businesses dealing with real-world assets. This move is expected to attract a wide range of dApps and protocols.

Security on the Converge network will be bolstered by the Converge Validator Network (CVN), which is secured by staked ENA, Ethena's native token. This validator network is designed to ensure the safety of funds and maintain network integrity, with a focus on fast finality for instant withdrawals and resistance to malicious extractable value (MEV). The project aims for block times as fast as 100 milliseconds at launch, with future upgrades targeting 50 milliseconds.

The launch of Converge comes as the RWA market continues to expand, and Layer 2 solutions gain increasing trust within the blockchain ecosystem. As sacha 🦣 remarked, "i think this will become an easier decision for businesses to make once projects like converge are actually live," highlighting the anticipation for a live, functional network that can demonstrate the benefits of this hybrid architecture for institutional and retail users alike.