Optimism lays off over 20% of staff in major workforce cut

Published at 2026-03-11 23:30:09

Internal sources say Optimism began a major round of layoffs on March 11, 2026, impacting over 20% of its employees. As a leading Ethereum layer-2 protocol, Optimism’s staff reduction is notable because it could reduce capacity for engineering, open-source maintenance and ecosystem support at a critical time for L2 rollouts. The decision underscores pressure in the broader crypto sector and may prompt builders and partners to reassess timelines for integrations and upgrades. Market participants should watch for an official statement from Optimism, any changes to its public roadmap or governance activity, and potential shifts in developer sentiment that could affect ETH ecosystem momentum.

OptimismLayoffsCryptoEthereumLayer-2

Share on:

Actor-turned-critic Ben McKenzie released the trailer for his film "Everyone Is Lying to You for Money," which includes interviews with former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and focuses on his political donations. The preview frames donations as central to the story behind FTX and industry influence.

CryptoSam Bankman-FriedRegulationFTXBen McKenzieDocumentary

Published at 2026-03-11 17:30:28

Revolut Secures Full UK Banking License

Revolut has been granted a full UK banking license, advancing its plan to become a global digital bank while keeping crypto and stock trading under separate structures. The move could broaden the firm's regulated product set and strengthen customer trust.

RevolutBanking LicenseUKDigital BankingCrypto

Published at 2026-03-11 17:15:12

FDIC Chief: Stablecoins Excluded From Deposit Insurance Under GENIUS Act

The FDIC chairman said stablecoins will not qualify for deposit insurance under the GENIUS Act, and that pass-through coverage is also off the table. The decision removes a regulatory path to federal-backed protection for token holders.

GENIUS ActRegulationFDICCryptoStablecoins

Published at 2026-03-11 16:45:20

Taleb: Musk’s X Money ‘Much Smarter’ Than Bitcoin as Early Access Nears

Elon Musk confirmed X Money will enter early access in April, and Nassim Taleb called the service “much smarter” than Bitcoin. The comment has rekindled debate over centralized payment products versus crypto.

Elon MuskX MoneyBitcoinCryptoNassim Taleb

Published at 2026-03-11 15:45:10

Crypto Rallies After IEA OKs Record 400M-Barrel Oil Release

Crypto markets jumped Wednesday as the IEA announced a 400 million-barrel oil release; Bitcoin briefly touched $71,000 as traders moved into risk assets. The move aims to ease a supply shock and calm energy-driven volatility that had weighed on sentiment.