First up, we’re thrilled to share the details of Tezos’ Trick or Tez sweepstakes — a seasonal celebration with a prize pool of 1,250 tez to add some extra sweetness to the spooky season!

Trick or Tez Sweepstakes 🎃

The Tezos ecosystem is rolling out a Halloween-themed event where five lucky winners will each walk away with 250 tez! Here’s how you can join in and try your luck:

How to Enter:

• Like and Follow: Start by liking the official post and following @Tezos on X.

• Spot the Logo: Watch the animated Halloween GIF and hit pause at just the right moment to catch a hidden Tezos logo!

• Share Your Screenshot: Quote-post your paused screenshot with the hashtag #TrickOrTez.

Winners will be announced on November 4th at 18:00 UTC, so don’t miss your chance to play — and maybe even win big!

A Surprising Shift: Qena42 Takes the Lead in Tezos Governance

Going from one Halloween surprise to another, let’s give a quick update from the Tezos governance front. Just as we thought Quebec had secured its spot, the Qena42 proposal pulled ahead in the final stretch, advancing to the critical Exploration phase. Now, Bakers will determine whether Qena42 will move forward as Tezos’ next protocol upgrade. But with recent insights from Nomadic Labs, there are new aspects to consider before casting votes.

The Bug in Qena42 and Nomadic Labs’ Recommendations

Qena42, designed as an alternative to the Quebec proposal, aims to reshape Tezos’ staking mechanism. However, Nomadic Labs has flagged a technical issue that could impact its intended functionality. Here’s what sets Qena42 apart and why Bakers should take a closer look:

1. Adaptive Maximum Exclusion: Unlike Quebec, Qena42 omits the "Adaptive Maximum" feature, which helps regulate issuance and manage inflation.

2. Staking Target Adjustment: Qena42 shifts the staking target from 50% to 42% but retains some inconsistencies in implementation.

Observations and Considerations

Nomadic Labs’ review found two main concerns for Bakers:

• Implementation Consistency: While Qena42’s staking target is intended to be 42%, parts of the code still reflect the original 50%. Additional alignment may be needed to match the proposal’s advertised changes.

• Quality Standards: The Qena42 code hasn’t been fully validated against Tezos’ testing suite, raising concerns about potential security and stability risks.

Nomadic Labs’ Suggestions for Bakers

To ensure Tezos’ governance process maintains high standards, Nomadic Labs offers two paths forward:

1. Vote “No” on Qena42: Restarting the governance cycle would allow time to refine the code and align it with Tezos’ rigorous quality benchmarks.

2. Consider a User-Activated Protocol Override (UAPO): This option would give developers additional time to adjust the activation timeline, allowing for comprehensive testing and validation. UAPOs have proven effective in previous protocol upgrades. (If the user activated upgrade is chosen, the creators of the proposal has vowed to assist in the process)

Voting Instructions for Bakers

As the Qena42 proposal moves through Exploration, Bakers can use the following command to cast their votes:

octez-client submit ballot for YOUR_ADDRESS PsQEna427TJJ2dYatjWS12qKihty5huvBDmNHNAgCeTzWCpF673 yay|nay|pass

Follow along on Tezos Agora for real-time updates and further details on Qena42. Bakers’ decisions in this phase will determine if Qena42 becomes the next step in Tezos’ evolution, maintaining the protocol’s commitment to both innovation and integrity.

Quantix Capital Commits $1M to Tezos Gaming Projects

Next up, The Tezos ecosystem received a major boost as Quantix Capital, one of the UAE’s leading VCs, pledged $1 million to support gaming projects on Tezos. In partnership with TZ APAC, Quantix is stepping up to provide resources and mentorship for Web3 game developers looking to launch on Tezos.

Quantix Capital's Managing Director, Jake Seltzer, highlighted the company’s dedication to helping developers create engaging games and explore new ways for players to interact with digital assets. “This is about empowering creators to build games that really stand out,” Seltzer noted, emphasizing that the support is not only financial but also hands-on, with guidance from industry experts at every stage of development.

This initiative comes at a pivotal time, as more gamers and developers begin to see the benefits of blockchain. Web3 gaming brings unique options like real ownership of in-game items and new revenue models, offering a fresh experience for players. TZ APAC’s Head of Gaming, Jeremy Foo, added, “Tezos is focused on creating sustainable, valuable projects that let both players and developers break free from traditional gaming limitations.”

The $1M fund aims to back standout ideas and help bring them to life within the Tezos ecosystem. Through this collaboration, Quantix and TZ APAC are also dedicated to expanding Tezos’ reach in the global gaming community, making it a platform where developers can thrive and players can discover new gaming experiences.

For anyone keeping an eye on blockchain gaming, this partnership is set to bring even more exciting developments to Tezos in the months to come.

This Week in the Tezos Ecosystem

Announcing Bifröst: New Kernel Proposal to Elevate Etherlink Mainnet

This week, Etherlink brings some exciting updates as Nomadic Labs, Trilitech, and Functori announce “Bifröst,” a new kernel upgrade proposal for Etherlink. Set to bring substantial improvements, Bifröst will introduce support for FA 2.1 tokens, performance optimizations, and improved compatibility with third-party tools like Blockscout.

The proposal is already live on the testnet, with successful deployment achieved on October 30 at block #10,758,937. For those interested in tracking the kernel version, you can verify it by running a simple command in your terminal. Now, the proposal is ready for review by Tezos bakers who can upvote the new kernel on Etherlink’s governance contract.

What You Need to Know:

• Expanded FA 2.1 Token Bridge: Enables seamless deposits and withdrawals of FA 2.1 tokens across Layer 1 and Layer 2.

• Enhanced Indexing: CallTracer support improves compatibility with tools like Blockscout for tracking internal transactions.

• Performance Boosts: Faster response times for computation-heavy operations.

• Security First: The FA bridge code has undergone rigorous review by Spearbit, ensuring security for all users.

Participating in Etherlink Governance

Bakers, it’s time to get involved! The proposal phase is open for 2.5 days, allowing bakers to either propose new upgrades or vote on Bifröst. If the kernel proposal garners enough upvotes, it will move to the promotion period, during which bakers can cast final votes on whether it should be integrated into the mainnet.

For a hands-on guide on submitting proposals or casting votes during the promotion period, please consult Etherlink’s governance documentation or follow the example commands provided for easy interaction with the governance contract.

Tim Draper Highlights Tezos in "Draper Decentralized" Series

Tezos garnered further attention as Tim Draper spotlighted it in his recent Draper Decentralized series episode. Draper showcased Tezos’ impactful presence at TOKEN2049, which included a keynote address, side events, and a deep dive into Tezos’ EVM-compatible technology innovations.

Catch the episode here to see Draper's perspective on Tezos’ role in shaping the future of decentralized tech.

AscendEX Adds Support for Tezos on Etherlink and Arbitrum Chains

Rounding out this week’s ecosystem news, AscendEX has announced it now supports deposits and withdrawals for Tezos (XTZ) on both Etherlink and Arbitrum chains. This integration provides AscendEX users with expanded options for managing XTZ, making it easier than ever to connect Tezos activity across multiple blockchains.

For those using AscendEX, remember to select the appropriate network (Tezos, Etherlink, or Arbitrum) for deposits and withdrawals to avoid any settlement issues. With Tezos’ growth across platforms, this is yet another step forward in expanding accessibility.

For further details, check out the AscendEX article or start trading now.

🔴 Now Streaming: Artist Spotlight | TechMental

This week on TezTalks Live, we’re joined by TechMental, an awesome artist, creative director, and builder. TechMental shares his journey into the Tezos ecosystem, insights on the evolution of Web 3.0 art, and what’s ahead for the Tezos art community.

🌟 Our special guest is TechMental, an artist and creator at the forefront of the Web 3.0 art movement on Tezos.

🔍 In this episode, we'll explore:

The Journey from Web 1.0 to Web 3.0: - TechMental discusses his path from early web days to creating art on the blockchain and how the landscape has transformed for artists.

Tezos in the Art Scene: - Discover why TechMental chose Tezos and hear about his experiences building and interacting with the vibrant Tezos art community.

Upcoming Events: - Learn about TechMental’s involvement with Art Basel and Bit Basel and how Tezos will be represented, including the potential for another TezPole!

The State of Web 3.0 Art in 2024: - Get insights on the evolving blockchain art space, including the role of NFTs and the unique opportunities Tezos offers for artists.

New Project - Darkvoiz: - TechMental introduces Darkvoiz, his latest project adding an audio element to blockchain art, and shares his vision for the future of Web 3.0 art.

Now Streaming:

YouTube | X

Events

Blockchain Life 2024, Dubai

This month, Arthur Breitman took the stage at Blockchain Life 2024 in Dubai, joining an esteemed panel to discuss “Blockchain’s Core Technical Advancements: Simplicity in Complexity.” Arthur was joined by industry leaders:

• Sunny Lu, CEO of VeChain

• Hugo Philion, CEO of Flare Labs

• Mustafa Al-Bassam, Co-Founder of Celestia Labs

• Giorgio Zinetti, CTO of Cardano Foundation

Watch the session here