Blockchain Infrastructure Evolution: Key Advancements Driving Scalable Institutional Adoption at BTCON Seoul 2025

In a pivotal panel discussion titled "Scalable Infrastructure for Institutional Adoption," leading blockchain infrastructure experts convened on September 5 at BTCON Seoul 2025 to discuss challenges and innovative solutions shaping institutional entry into the blockchain ecosystem. Hosted by industry leader Digital Asset, the event brought together insights from Terrence Lam of Taiko, Brett Carter of Boundless, RJ from Aligned Layer, and representatives of BuildOnBitcoin (BOB).

The subject of institutional trust in Ethereum dominated the conversation, alongside barriers such as high transaction costs, slow processing speeds, and limited network throughput. Each panelist shared unique strategies to overcome these obstacles, underscoring the technological competition driving advancements within the blockchain space.

Addressing Institutional Challenges Through Layer 2 Innovation

Taiko: Expanding Ethereum’s Scalability While Upholding Decentralization

Terrence Lam, co-founder of Taiko, presented their Layer 2 (L2) solution positioned as "the most Ethereum-aligned L2." Lam explained Taiko’s adoption of a Type 1 architecture, enabling Ethereum-based applications to operate seamlessly without requiring modifications to their underlying code. This framework enhances network throughput by delivering faster, cost-efficient transactions, all while adhering to Ethereum’s core design principles.

A critical differentiator for Taiko is its unwavering focus on decentralization. Lam highlighted that Taiko departs from centralized approver systems typically seen in other L2 platforms by employing a community-driven proposer and prover system. "Since our mainnet launch, we have processed approximately 900 million transactions without failure and recently reduced block time to two seconds through our latest upgrade," Lam noted. These technical milestones showcase Taiko’s reliability and scalability, offering institutional-grade performance tailored to large-scale adoption.

Boundless and BuildOnBitcoin: Harnessing ZK Proofs for Security and Compatibility

Brett Carter, the Head of Product at Boundless, emphasized the transformative role of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. Key to unlocking privacy and selective data disclosure for institutional adoption, Boundless’s decentralized prover network generates ZK proofs that power secure, compliant blockchain solutions. Carter referenced Boundless's effort to deploy its RiskZero ZK Virtual Machine (ZKVM) in a confidential payment system pilot by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), demonstrating the protocol’s ability to meet stringent regulatory confidentiality standards.

RJ of BuildOnBitcoin discussed the platform’s vision as a hybrid Layer 2 built on Bitcoin, focusing on bridging the gap between trillions of dollars in Bitcoin assets and Ethereum’s decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. RJ noted that current bridging mechanisms often rely on centralized intermediaries, creating trust issues. BuildOnBitcoin seeks to address these risks by integrating trust-minimized tools, including their proprietary BitVM.

RJ further elaborated on the “BOB Gateway,” which delivers intuitive access for institutions and retail users to Ethereum L2 products using Bitcoin. This seamless transaction pathway prioritizes Ethereum's scalability while opening broader adoption opportunities for Bitcoin holders. The emphasis on user-friendly design aligns with BuildOnBitcoin's goal to serve diverse demography, from financial institutions to individual users entering the DeFi landscape.

Specialized Institutional Solutions: The Next Evolution of Layer 2 Platforms

Panelists agreed that Layer 2 solutions are pivoting beyond speed enhancements to address the unique needs of institutional players. These requirements include regulatory compliance, cost-effective transaction frameworks, seamless multi-chain integrations, and user-centric design. By combining Ethereum's well-established security and decentralization with scalable functionality, Layer 2 platforms are increasingly positioning themselves as the backbone for driving institutional capital into blockchain.

The discussion opened an important dialogue about the future of on-chain finance, particularly how advancements in L2 technology will shape blockchain's ability to meet large-scale institutional and retail adoption demands. As technical innovations continue to emerge, projects like Taiko, Boundless, and BuildOnBitcoin offer compelling examples of the potential for blockchain infrastructure to bridge the gap between institutional needs and blockchain’s decentralized promise, paving the way for mainstream adoption.