Seoul is Now Live on Tezos

At block #10,279,489 on September 19, the Seoul protocol upgrade officially activated on Tezos mainnet. This 19th upgrade, developed by teams at Nomadic Labs, Trilitech, and Functori, continues Tezos’ tradition of smooth on-chain evolution, with a focus on simplifying workflows for bakers, institutions, and everyday users alike.

Here’s a quick overview of what Seoul brings:

• Native multisig support for tz4 accounts makes it easier and safer for teams to manage funds collectively on-chain.

• Aggregated attestations reduce bandwidth and unlock lower latency on Layer 1 by compressing ~200 signatures into just one.

• Open unstake finalization streamlines the staking process by allowing third parties to finalize unstaking after the wait period.

What’s New and Why It Matters

Multisigs Made Native
With native multisig accounts now available for tz4, Seoul makes it simpler to set up secure, multi-party control over Tezos wallets with no external smart contracts needed. This is especially useful for institutional custody setups and coordinated group operations.

Consensus, but Leaner
Aggregated attestations mean bakers who use tz4 can submit a single consensus signature instead of hundreds. That reduces consensus data from nearly 1 GB per day to as little as 14 MB, freeing up bandwidth and opening the door to faster block times in future upgrades.

Smoother Staking with Open Finalization
Before Seoul, users needed to manually finalize unstaking after a 4-cycle (~4 day) waiting period. Now, anyone can finalize it on their own behalf. This enables services to offer one-click unstaking that “just works,” while still preserving control and ownership.

The Shift to tz4 and the Hardware That Enables It
For bakers, taking full advantage of Seoul’s consensus improvements means switching to tz4 keys. While some hardware devices aren’t up to the task, Nomadic Labs has introduced a prototype Tezos RPI BLS Signer, a low-cost, open-source signing device built for tz4. It’s fast, focused, and designed to keep consensus operations secure and efficient.

What's Next

Seoul clears the way for faster, leaner, and more secure Tezos activity, especially as more bakers adopt tz4 and new tooling becomes available. It’s a critical step on the path toward Tezos X, and as always, the upgrade was made possible through open development and on-chain governance. So what’s life after Seoul? The teams in the ecosystem are already preparing the next ‘T’ upgrade proposal. One community member has already started dissecting the T protocol proposal from Tezos’ Gitlab. Stay tuned for more information as the next proposal is officially announced.

To dive deeper into the Seoul changelog, tutorials, and technical details, visit Tezos Agora.

Announcing Ebisu: Etherlink’s 5th Upgrade Proposal

Just as the Seoul upgrade reinforces the foundation of Tezos Layer 1, Etherlink is gearing up for its next leap forward on Layer 2.

The teams at Nomadic Labs, TriliTech, and Functori have introduced Ebisu, the proposed fifth upgrade to the Etherlink mainnet kernel. Building on the performance gains from Etherlink 4.1, this upcoming version targets broader EVM compatibility, more flexible developer tools, and a notable shift under the hood from SputnikVM to REVM.

The proposal will be submitted to the slow governance track on October 3, 2025, and the full details including commit hash and code changes will be shared ahead of the vote. Until then, here’s what you need to know about what Ebisu brings:

Key Highlights of Ebisu:

• EVM Prague Support
  Ebisu brings Etherlink in sync with Prague-era Ethereum standards:

  • EIP-7702 introduces account abstraction capabilities like gasless and batched transactions for externally owned accounts.

  • EIP-2537 adds native support for BLS12-381 operations, key for apps relying on cryptographic verification.

  • EIP-7623 aligns calldata costs with Ethereum, improving tool compatibility with minimal cost impact.

• Breaking Changes to the FA Token Bridge
  Event emissions are now standardized to improve indexing and interoperability.
  If you’re a developer or running an indexer, double-check your logic, the way fast withdrawals and claimed deposits are emitted is changing.

• REVM Replaces SputnikVM
  This is big. Etherlink now runs REVM instead of SputnikVM, offering:

  • Increased capacity: 14M gas/sec, up from 8M.

  • Deeper call stack: Raised from 256 to 1,024—matching full EVM spec.

  • Easier updates: REVM is closely aligned with Ethereum upgrades, allowing Etherlink to track upstream changes faster.

• Sequencer Key Flexibility
  With Ebisu, the sequencer operator can rotate signing keys without needing to pass another governance vote—helpful for infrastructure migrations or key rotation best practices.

Thanks to Etherlink 4.1, bakers can now delegate voting responsibilities to a voting key, meaning you don’t need to touch your baking setup just to vote. You can configure yours at governance.etherlink.com.

• Proposal period begins: October 3, 2025

• Promotion vote period: October 8, 2025
  (These dates may drift—live updates are on the governance site.)

Ebisu showcases how Etherlink is maturing, not just with bigger capacity and better compatibility, but with the kind of flexibility and governance tools that make a truly developer-friendly rollup. Between this and the Seoul upgrade, it’s a good week for protocol progress.

This Week in the Tezos Ecosystem

Art on Tezos: Berlin - A Three-Day Celebration of Art and Culture

Following Seoul and Etherlink's momentum, we shift focus to a different kind of expression, one that’s long been a defining part of the Tezos ecosystem: art.

Kicking off this November in Berlin, Art on Tezos: Berlin brings together over 200 artists and a wide mix of galleries, platforms, and curators for a three-day celebration of digital art and community. Running from November 6 to 9, this event marks the first time so many voices from the Tezos art ecosystem have come together in one physical space.

The lineup includes contributions from objkt, bitforms, Galerie Met, Office Impart, and the curatorial collective The Second-Guess, each offering their own perspective on what makes the Tezos art scene so unique. You'll see everything from interactive installations to film screenings, alongside special projects and live performances from artists like allapopp, known for her work at the intersection of digital media and performance.

What started in 2021 with grassroots platforms like hic et nunc has since grown into one of the most active creative communities in Web3. Tezos-based marketplaces such as teia, objkt, and IINK have given thousands of artists a way to mint, share, and sell work while reaching collectors around the world. Over time, that momentum has attracted major partners like Art Basel, Musée d'Orsay, and Serpentine, helping artists access new audiences and build sustainable creative practices.

Berlin’s program will feature guided tours, immersive exhibitions, and the latest showcase from TeleNFT, a project focused on turning live teletext broadcasts into fully on-chain artwork. For many attendees, it’s a chance to see these projects outside the screen, in a space where conversations happen face to face and the community feels tangible.

Aleksandra Art, Head of Arts at Trilitech, put it best:

Art on Tezos continues to grow, and this event captures the spirit of the incredible art community on Tezos. Make sure to RSVP here for this can’t miss event.

DAO Maker Launches on Etherlink

DAO Maker, one of the most recognized launchpads in Web3, has officially integrated with Etherlink, bringing new opportunities for early-stage projects building in the Tezos ecosystem.

With support from TZ APAC, this collaboration expands DAO Maker’s reach to Etherlink-based teams, helping them connect with retail investors and access the tools and capital needed to grow. It's a strong vote of confidence in Etherlink’s potential and adds another key piece to the growing Tezos builder stack.

Tezos Community Events

Tezos at TOKEN2049: Here’s Where to Find Us

All eyes are on Singapore as TOKEN2049 kicks off this fall and once again, Tezos will have a strong presence with a variety of events.

On October 1–2, Arthur Breitman, co-founder of Tezos, takes the main stage to share his thoughts on what it takes to keep a decentralized network adaptive. His talk explores the careful balance between shipping upgrades quickly and safely, maintaining user confidence, and protecting momentum across years of development. With Tezos nearing its 19th protocol upgrade and a consistent track record of forkless evolution, it’s a topic the network is uniquely qualified to address.

But the conversation doesn’t stop when the conference does.

📍 September 30 – Fortify Labs Open House
Start the week strong with the Fortify Labs Day 0 gathering. TZ APAC is opening its doors for founders, builders, and investors to meet, connect, and explore new ideas without the pitch decks.

RSVP here.

📍 October 2 – Hack Seasons Conference
TZ APAC Managing Director David Tng will take the main stage at the Hack Seasons Conference to talk about building ecosystems that last.

RSVP here.

📍 October 2 – Web3 Grants Day #3
Imran from the Fortify Labs team will be speaking on how the program supports early-stage teams and accelerates growth on Etherlink. You’ll also find the team at Booth #1 throughout the day.

RSVP Here.

📍 October 3 – Tezos Breakfast Club
Wind down the week with the Tezos Breakfast Club — a laid-back morning meetup for builders, bakers, and everyone in between. Great coffee, friendly faces, and space to reflect on a packed week.

RSVP here.

Paris Meetup: A Toast to Seoul

The Tezos community in Paris is gathering for a cozy evening of conversation, cheese, and celebration.

Hosted by Nomadic Labs, this meetup is a chance to connect with fellow builders, hear updates on the freshly activated Seoul protocol, and unwind with a glass of wine in hand. If you're in town, come by and say hello.

🗓 September 25 | 7:00PM CEST
📍 Nomadic Labs, 46 Bd de la Bastille, 75012 Paris
🔗 RSVP here

Don’t forget that it’s Staketember!

It’s that time of year again. Staketember has returned, and with it comes Tezos’ most sacred tradition: making fun of network infrastructure for internet points (and a little tez).

Whether you’re a baker, delegator, or just someone who knows how to explain consensus with SpongeBob templates, the Staketember Meme Contest is your time to shine.

 What to meme about:

• Staking and delegating — the why, how, and hilarious misconceptions

• Tezos’ unique security model (yes, nerd jokes welcome)

• Bakers, rewards, governance… if it keeps Tezos running, it’s fair game

How to enter:
Quote repost this post with your meme and tag @Tezos

Prizes:

• 🥇 Top 3 memes win 100 tez each

• 🥲 Eternal bragging rights and chain-wide clout

• 🗓️ Winners announced September 30

So load up your meme folders, channel your inner staking strategist, and make September the funniest month on Tezos.

🔴 Now Streaming: James Lee, a Tezos Artist with Superpowers

James Lee, co-creator of Zero Unbound Art, shares his journey of blending art, music, advocacy, and technology on Tezos blockchain. Through his surreal hand-drawn animations and passion for fully on-chain formats, he's creating artwork that will outlive us all while championing accessibility and permanence in digital creation.

• Converting ADHD into a creative superpower by hyperfixating on learning new skills
• Building Zero Unbound Art platform to make fully on-chain NFTs accessible to everyone without coding knowledge
• Creating the largest fully on-chain animation on Tezos at 261 kilobytes through hand-drawn pixel art
• Living with Tourette's syndrome and discovering that creative activities help manage symptoms
• Experiencing synesthesia where sounds create visual patterns that influence his artwork
• Developing a 118-element periodic table animation project that combines science and art
• Supporting fellow artists by collecting, amplifying, and mentoring throughout the Tezos ecosystem
• Finding new creative inspiration through fatherhood and teaching his children artistic skills
• Leveraging his experience as a former college professor to make blockchain technology approachable

Join us in exploring how blockchain can preserve our creative legacy forever while removing gatekeepers and giving everyone a chance to participate.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.