Celestia Launches 128MB Block Testnet "mamo-1"

Celestia Launches 128MB Block Testnet "mamo-1"

Celestia has launched a new public testnet, mamo-1, to showcase 128MB block capacity and 21.33MB/s data throughput, over 16 times higher than mainnet. Blocks are produced every six seconds by a network of 21 validators spread across Amsterdam, Paris, and Warsaw.

The mamo-1 network simulates real-world operational complexity and integrates Celestia’s data availability stack to support high-throughput use cases like zk-rollups and onchain games. To get started users can access the mamochain faucet to get testnet tokens (with no airdrop incentive).

The testnet features Vacuum!, a pull-based broadcast protocol using Validator Availability Certificates and Just-In-Time routing to move data efficiently and resist denial-of-service attacks. This system allows validators to fetch chunks of high-priority data on demand, reducing redundancy and maximizing propagation speed.

The mamo-1 testnet also introduces the Pull-Based Broadcast Tree, which lets validators reconstruct blocks using erasure-coded data and mempool fragments instead of full downloads. Developers are encouraged to stress-test the network under heavy load as Celestia builds toward 1GB block scalability.

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Kraken Launches Stock and ETF Trading in U.S.

Kraken has begun rolling out commission-free trading for over 11,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs, starting in ten states and Washington, D.C. The move brings traditional financial assets to one of the world’s oldest crypto exchanges, marking a step toward full-service investing. The company said it aims to offer a seamless experience as more users look to trade across asset classes.

The exchange’s expansion follows a favorable shift in regulatory tone, including the SEC’s recent dismissal of its enforcement case. Kraken also acquired futures platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion and confirmed plans to go public, though no timeline was given. Global expansion of equities trading is underway, with future access planned for UK, EU, and Australia users.

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Mantra CEO Denies Dumping, Pledges Token Support

Mantra CEO John Mullin addressed the community following OM’s sharp price crash, saying the recovery of the token is the project’s “primary concern.” During an AMA on April 14, he said early plans for a potential token buyback or burn are being considered, but nothing is finalized. OM briefly fell to $0.52 before bouncing back slightly to $0.73 at time of writing.

Mullin also rejected claims of insider dumping and denied the team controls 90% of the token’s supply. He pointed to a transparency report and wallet data showing major holdings on exchanges like Binance and OKX. Mantra’s $109 million ecosystem fund, backed by investors like Laser Digital and Brevan Howard, will continue deploying capital to support recovery.

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SEC Delays Decision on Ethereum Staking ETFs

The SEC has delayed its decision on whether to allow Ether staking in Grayscale’s Ethereum Trust and Mini Trust ETFs. The new deadline is set for June 1, though the final determination must come by the end of October. Grayscale and others, including BlackRock, are seeking to add staking rewards to boost yield for ETF investors.

Despite the delay on staking, the SEC did approve options trading on several Ether ETFs last week. Ether ETF inflows currently total $2.28 billion, far below the $35 billion that has flowed into Bitcoin ETFs. If approved, staking could make Ether funds more competitive by offering additional returns to investors.

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Data of the Day

The total crypto lending market remains 43% below its 2021 peak, largely due to the collapse of major centralized lenders like Celsius and Genesis. According to Galaxy Digital, the market shrank from $64.4 billion to $36.5 billion by late 2024. But while CeFi remains down, DeFi lending has seen a 959% rebound from its bear market bottom.

DeFi borrowing rose from just $1.8 billion in Q4 2022 to over $19 billion by the end of last year. Analysts say the recovery reflects investor preference for permissionless protocols that survived the market downturn. Today, DeFi platforms account for a growing share of the lending sector, even as CeFi struggles to regain trust.

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More Breaking News

• Nvidia will manufacture $500B worth of AI chips in the U.S., opening doors for crypto miners to repurpose infrastructure for AI workloads.
• Michael Saylor's Strategy bought another $286M in Bitcoin last week, bringing its holdings to 531,644 BTC as tariff exemptions sparked a broader tech rally.
• Google will restrict crypto ads in the EU to MiCA-licensed firms starting April 23, pressuring exchanges to meet new regulatory standards.
• Japan's Metaplanet added $26M in Bitcoin, boosting holdings to 4,525 BTC and reaffirming its goal to reach 10,000 BTC by year-end.
• Bybit denied claims of $1.4M listing fees and student mistreatment, clarifying it asks for deposits and marketing funds from token projects.
• Trump's World Liberty Financial bought $775K in SEI, extending its $347M altcoin spree despite a $145M on-paper portfolio loss.

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