Web3 Watch: The Base space sweepstakes

Plus, Telegram adds monetization features and Aavegotchi teases a layer-3

article-image

Base modified by Blockworks

share

Coinbase’s layer-2 Base has been running a summer-long promotion known as “onchain summer.” For its latest publicity stunt, it’s letting users sign up to try and go to space.

The flight is being pulled off with Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin and the Space Exploration and Research Agency (SERA), an organization focused on broadening access to space research and exploration. SERA secured six seats on Blue Origin’s upcoming New Shepard flight, and Base users can sign up to be considered for the flight by minting from a set of NFTs on Base. The final crew is voted on by the SERA community.

Loading Tweet..

In collaboration with Base, SERA released an NFT triptych that can be purchased one by one for around $3 — roughly the same price other astronaut candidates have paid. Users who collect all three NFTs are fast-tracked into the second round of the astronaut selection process.

Read more: A bitcoin headed for the moon may be lost in space

Base’s onchain summer has broadly looked to bring users to Base through games, NFTs, and giveaways, among other things. It’s a gamified attempt to draw users that, perhaps refreshingly, doesn’t involve a native token airdrop. 

Over the past 90 days, Base has seen roughly 280 million transactions, according to L2 Beat, which is the most of any layer-2 by a wide margin.

Read more: Airdrop backscratching is crypto’s latest dilemma

Following the announcement, Base users chimed in on social media with their typical rallying cry: “Based.”

Telegram doubles down on in-app currency

The encrypted messaging app Telegram — nearly ubiquitous among Web3’s faithful — announced further updates to its in-app Stars currency.

Users can now essentially tip content creators and Telegram channels with Stars text reactions. Stars live off chain but can be converted to the Toncoin cryptocurrency for nearly no commission, Telegram said

Read more: Web3 Watch: Telegram launches browser, ‘mini app store’

Telegram creators can also create exclusive channels where subscribers pay a monthly amount of Stars for access.

Earlier this month, Telegram launched a browser and mini app store to let users access games — which tend to draw droves of crypto users hoping to get their name on the list for token airdrops.

One interesting stat:

  • Of 10,384 tokens launched over the past 24 hours on pump.fun, only 156 secured enough investment to graduate to Raydium, according to a Dune dashboard. That’s around a 1.5% success rate.

Also of note:

  • The crypto NFT game Aavegotchi will be moving to a “members-only” layer-3 built on Arbitrum Orbit
  • Crypto.com became a sponsor of the UEFA Champions League, two years after it pulled out of a $495 million deal with the European soccer tournament
  • Donald Trump’s sons’ crypto project will involve digital real estate, they told the New York Post

Get the news in your inbox. Explore Blockworks newsletters:

Tags

Decoding crypto and the markets. Daily, with Byron Gilliam.

Upcoming Events

Javits Center North | 445 11th Ave

Tues - Thurs, March 24 - 26, 2026

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

Old Billingsgate

Mon - Wed, October 13 - 15, 2025

Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) will feature conversations between the builders, allocators, and legislators who will shape the trajectory of the digital asset ecosystem in the US and abroad.

recent research

Unlocked by Template (1).jpg

Research

As AI supercharges surveillance, privacy becomes a prerequisite and the winning stack will combine confidentiality with selective disclosure. Zcash’s Tachyon, composable standards on Ethereum/Solana, and compliance-aware pools aim to make private rails the new norm.

article-image

US bitcoin ETFs that seen more than $2.2 billion of net inflows over the last four trading days

by Blockworks /
article-image

More than 75 million U.S. Galaxy owners gain integrated Coinbase One access through Samsung Wallet, with global rollout planned

by Blockworks /
article-image

The central bank signed agreements with firms for fraud, payments, and app services ahead of a potential launch

by Blockworks /
article-image

Experts agree that the shutdown will delay new crypto ETF approvals, but lawmakers seem keen to move ahead with legislative work

article-image

The perp DEX verifies matching and liquidations with custom zero-knowledge circuits and keeps user assets on Ethereum

article-image

The derivatives giant will extend futures and options access to round-the-clock trading in early 2026

by Blockworks /