Last week, the Blast Network achieved a significant milestone in decentralized finance (DeFi) by reaching $400 million in total locked value (TVL) and $600 million in just seven days.
Since then, the total value locked has increased to $722 million, despite concerns about the project’s centralization.
Blast Scores $600 Million TVL in Mostly Staking Deposits
Blast’s success can be seen through its impressive numbers. It accumulated a TVL of $400 million in four days and reached $600 million in just seven days, establishing itself as a prominent player in DeFi. TVL measures the value of assets locked, primarily through staking, in a DeFi protocol.
The Blast Network offers high yields on Ethereum and stablecoins, attracting users with its attractive returns for locking their assets for an extended period. Additionally, the high TVL suggests that users have confidence in the network’s security and reliability.
Allegations of Centralization
Despite its successful launch, the Blast network has faced criticism for being too centralized. A developer at Polygon Labs, Jarrod Watts, expressed concerns about the security risks posed by the ability to upgrade smart contracts using a wallet. This could potentially give hackers access to over $400 million in assets on the network.
Watts argues that Blast is not a true Layer 2 network but rather a platform that accepts tokens for staking. In response, Blast claims to be actively pursuing decentralization and promotes itself as “the only layer two of Ethereum with fair rates of return for ETH and stablecoins.”
Hot Take: Blast Network Continues to Grow Despite Centralization Concerns
The Blast Network has achieved remarkable success in a short period, amassing over $600 million in TVL. While allegations of centralization have been raised, the project’s creators emphasize their commitment to decentralization and fair returns for users. As the DeFi space evolves, it will be interesting to see how Blast Network addresses these concerns and maintains its growth trajectory.