Ethena and Securitize Detail Plans for Converge: Arbitrum and Celestia Integration
TL;DR Converge, the upcoming blockchain developed by Ethena and Securitize, is scheduled to launch its mainnet by the end of Q2 2025. It will leverage Arbitrum’s scalability technology and Celestia’s data availability layer to deliver superior performance with low latency. The network will allow users to pay gas fees with stable tokens like USDe and USDtb, while combining permissionless DeFi applications with regulated institutional-grade financial products. The partnership between Ethena and Securitize has led to the creation of “Converge”, a blockchain designed to bridge the gap between real-world assets (RWA) and decentralized finance (DeFi), uniting both under one unified infrastructure. This Ethereum-compatible network aims to revolutionize the way institutional capital interacts with the crypto ecosystem. The mainnet is expected to go live in the second quarter of 2025, as confirmed by Carlos Domingo, CEO of Securitize. Converge is built upon two major technological pillars: the scalability of Arbitrum and the data availability efficiency of Celestia. This powerful combination seeks to resolve current bottlenecks affecting EVM-compatible blockchains, thanks to a custom-built sequencer that maximizes transaction throughput while reducing data storage costs. The goal is crystal clear: to attract tens of billions in institutional capital to the crypto space by offering a platform that is fast, secure, and compliant with financial regulations. Gas Innovation and Network Security One of Converge’s most intriguing features is the ability for users to pay network fees using Ethena’s stablecoins: USDe and USDtb. Both are engineered to maintain a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar, simplifying accounting procedures and minimizing volatility for users operating within the network. On the security front, the “Converge Validator Network” (CVN) will play a critical role. This validator council, comprised of participants who stake Ethena’s ENA token, will serve as an emergency failsafe in the event of critical protocol issues and will also take part in network governance. According to the developers, this additional layer of oversight ensures systemic stability without compromising decentralization, even in highly regulated institutional environments. Bridging Traditional Finance and DeFi Ethena already holds a dominant position in the market through its synthetic token USDe, which is backed by over $5 billion in assets. At the same time, Securitize leads the institutional tokenization space, serving major clients like BlackRock, Apollo, and Hamilton Lane. Converge represents the next logical evolution: a blockchain capable of hosting both traditional financial instruments and cutting-edge DeFi protocols within a single, regulatory-compliant, technically robust environment. From a pro-crypto perspective, this project represents a significant milestone: it shows that decentralized finance can evolve to become attractive and secure even for large-scale institutional investors. If successful, Converge could mark the beginning of a new era where Wall Street and Web3 merge without friction.