Taiko's Mainnet Turns One Year, Acknowledged by Vitalik as the Original 'Base Rollup'

# Ethereum Layer 2 Project Taiko Celebrates First Anniversary with Major Growth The Ethereum Layer 2 zero-knowledge rollup project Taiko ($TAIKO) celebrates its first mainnet launch anniversary, marking significant growth in technology, ecosystem, and community. Over the past year, Taiko has hit key milestones, including 766 million transactions, 2.46 million wallets, over 100 decentralized applications (dApps), $285 million in total value locked (TVL), backing from major global exchanges, and transitioning to a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). Following its "ETH-equivalent decentralized network" model, Taiko uses a novel rollup method, "based rollup," where Layer 2 sequencing is entirely on Ethereum. # Mainnet Launch: Vitalik Buterin Proposed First Block Following two years of development and seven public testnet rounds, Taiko launched its mainnet with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin proposing the inaugural block, emphasizing the significance of the based rollup model. Taiko allows anyone to operate nodes, propose blocks, and validate the network. In its first year, Taiko reached technical milestones like 100% self-proposed block zero-knowledge proofs, validation of over 30% of blocks, compressing 150 blocks into single transactions, and implementing a 2-second pre-confirmation via the “Pakaya” upgrade. Taiko is also progressing its multi-proof system and introducing a Prover-Proposer Separation (PPS) structure. The new synchronized, aggregated rollup “Gwyneth” is set for a public testnet in late 2025. # Diverse dApp Ecosystem in DeFi, Gaming, and NFTs The Taiko ecosystem now includes over 100 dApps in decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, NFTs, and AI. Notable DeFi projects include Curve Finance, Oku Trade, Meridian Finance, and KiloEx, with the stablecoin market surpassing $25 million. In gaming, projects like LooperLands, EVM Warfare, and Intraverse are thriving, while NFT issuance and trading are active. # Community Engagement and Global Expansion Taiko’s community has grown to over 1 million active users on Discord and X (formerly Twitter). Initiatives like Galaxy (Galxe) campaigns promote new projects and user participation. Educational resources like tutorials and videos enhance user engagement. Taiko has participated in global events like ETHDenver, Token2049, Devcon SEA, and Korea Blockchain Week (KBW). In March 2025, Taiko hosted its “Based Rollup Summit” in San Francisco and will hold a second summit on July 1, during the ETHCC event in Cannes, France. A significant milestone was Taiko’s listing on Revolut, the first Layer 2 project token to do so, reaching 45 million users. Listings on major exchanges like Upbit, KuCoin, Bybit, and Bitget have also boosted $TAIKO’s liquidity. # Ecosystem Support: Grants, Hackathons, and Partnerships In March 2025, Taiko launched a $25 million ecosystem grant fund to drive innovation within its network. The Grant Factory hackathon on DoraHacks attracted record-breaking votes, leading to numerous new projects. Infrastructure partnerships have strengthened Taiko’s ecosystem, with collaborations on modular rollup tools (OpenZeppelin), DAO governance (Aragon), and specialized rollup proof infrastructures (Succinct, RISC Zero, and Nethermind). # Future Roadmap: Pre-Confirmation Rollout and DAO Integration Looking ahead, Taiko plans to roll out its Pakaya pre-confirmation system on the mainnet soon, enabling near-instant transaction finality. The transition to a full DAO governance model will also empower the community to manage protocol upgrades and treasury. Taiko continues to develop “Gwyneth,” a synchronized, scalable Layer 2 model, with a public testnet planned for late 2025. Expanded airdrops, tiered rewards programs, and builder initiatives will enhance user engagement. “We aim to not just create a rollup but to establish the standard for next-generation rollups,” the Taiko team stated. “Our vision is to be an Ethereum Layer 2 network that truly serves a wide community.”