Avalanche Surges 100% to Cap a Transformational Year

In a year marked by transformation and innovation, Avalanche and Near have solidified their respective positions as a major players in the blockchain space.

This year, Coinage is highlighting the best projects in crypto as part of our annual Crypto Project of the Year celebration. Our members will vote on which one of the 16 nominated projects will win the crown. Head to Coinage's Snapshot to vote — ( you'll need a Coinage Caucus or Network NFT.)

As Near continues to make strides in achieving its goal of becoming the go-to blockchain for AI, Avalanche has made strides this year to upgrade to a system of customized and interoperable Layer-1s. Ava Labs COO Luigi D'Onorio DeMeo joined Coinage to discuss the year’s milestones and the path ahead, shedding light on Avalanche's evolution, strategic rebranding, and its commitment to making blockchain technology accessible to all.

Rebranding Subnets as Layer 1s: A Strategic Pivot

One of the most notable changes in Avalanche’s trajectory this year was the rebranding of subnets to Layer 1s (L1s), a shift accompanied by the landmark Avalanche9000 upgrade. Luigi explained that the decision was more than cosmetic — it was about redefining accessibility and scalability within the network.

“The Avalanche9000 upgrade is probably the largest upgrade in Avalanche’s history,” Luigi said, explaining that people no longer need to stake 2,000 AVAX per validator and instead pay a very small continuous fee. As a result, participating in the Avalanche ecosystem is getting cheaper and more accessible. The update not only reduces costs but also enhances the network’s capacity to attract developers and enterprises alike. By decoupling L1 validators from the Primary Network’s validators, the upgrade enables a more open and scalable ecosystem, making it easier for new projects to launch without prohibitive capital requirements.

Real-World Use Cases: From DMV Titles to TradFi Titans

Avalanche’s appeal as a multi-purpose blockchain was on full display in 2024. Among the standout projects was the California DMV’s initiative to digitize 42 million vehicle titles on Avalanche. For Luigi, such projects epitomize blockchain’s potential to modernize legacy systems.

“It’s not easy to get a state to move," Luigi said about the project. "You can also streamline and improve much of not only our financial infrastructure, but our digital infrastructure."

In addition to public sector applications, Avalanche has made waves in traditional finance. BlackRock, Franklin Templeton, and Citi are just some of the financial giants tapping into Avalanche for blockchain-based solutions. Luigi underscored the importance of these partnerships: “Stocks and bonds will be traded on-chain one day. To have that happen on Avalanche, those relationships need to start now.”

Gaming: A New Frontier

Avalanche’s flexibility as a blockchain also drew interest from the gaming sector. Off the Grid, a AAA battle royale game built on Avalanche, generated over 400,000 transactions from 30,000 players in a single weekend. The project’s seamless integration of blockchain technology into gaming highlights Avalanche’s technical strengths.

Luigi recalled a key endorsement from Off the Grid’s developers: “What we were able to accomplish with Avalanche technology was something we couldn’t achieve with others. That’s the true ringing endorsement we’re looking for.”

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Avalanche in 2025?

With the Avalanche9000 upgrade paving the way for a more robust multi-chain ecosystem, Avalanche is poised to scale even further in 2025. The team is focused on delivering key improvements to its C-Chain, aiming to make it faster and cheaper, while continuing to attract top-tier projects to its ecosystem.

Luigi also shared a forward-looking vision for crypto. One prediction stood out: the transformative potential of stablecoins in payroll systems. “When salaries start to get paid in stablecoins, the whole mindset of crypto changes,” he said. “It becomes an ecosystem that doesn’t need to touch the old system.”

This shift could fundamentally alter how people interact with crypto, turning it from an investment vehicle into a fully integrated financial system.

Avalanche’s 2024 achievements underscore its commitment to scalability, flexibility, and real-world utility. From groundbreaking partnerships to technical innovation, the platform has laid the groundwork for a dynamic 2025.

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Coinage members can watch our full interview with Ava Labs COO Luigi D'Onorio DeMeo above. To support our community-owned outlet, own it with us, and unlock other exclusive benefits, mint one of our Membership Passes today! Chat with Coinage in our Discord.