As we bid farewell to The Protocol, we reflect on its journey since its inception on April 26, 2023, covering the vast expanse of blockchain technology. Initially focused on Ethereum, the newsletter expanded to encompass Bitcoin, Solana, Cosmos, and other emerging technologies.
Our author, Bradley Keoun, shares his personal journey, from geeking out over blockchain tech to becoming increasingly snarky and cynical about the industry's financial aspects. Despite this, he remains in awe of the innovative projects and updates that emerge every week. We launched an accompanying podcast that gained popularity before being paused due to lack of sponsorship. As Bradley departs CoinDesk, Deputy Editor-in-Chief Marc Hochstein will take the reins.
We express gratitude to our loyal readers and look forward to the next chapter. In this issue, we cover significant announcements from Ethereum's Devcon conference, including Justin Drake's proposed Beam Chain upgrade roadmap. Additionally, we report on a breakthrough in Bitcoin development, enabling the addition of covenants without requiring a soft fork. Other notable updates include the upcoming release of the LINEA token, the sentencing of Roman Sterlingov, and the debate among Bitcoin developers on upgrading the technology behind the top cryptocurrency.