🌍 This Week in Web3forGood

mainstream ZKPs, Western Union, 10 years of ETH

Aug 01, 2025

gm gm,

we’re back from our annual summer break. You know what is not taking a break this summer? web3. so much is happening, so let’s get right into it.

On Wednesday, the global community came together to celebrate *TEN YEARS* of Ethereum 🥳🎉. HBD ETH! It’s a major milestone for the blockchain that aims to be the “world computer.” If you’re on web3 ~~Twitter~~ X, you’ve probably seen lots of “believe in somETHing” posts (ours, below 👇 + more at the end of this newsletter). We’re proud to be a part of the Ethereum community and continuously inspired by the builders leveraging the power of its tech to create a more free, open, and equitable internet for everyone.

So what else has been happening? To summarize: The US passed the first ever national crypto legislation (and largely with bipartisan support!), Google’s new partnership with Self takes ZK proof-of-humanity mainstream, Western Union is ready to become a global offramp for crypto, decentralized social media is so back (maybe?)). Big launches/partnerships/visions from Celo, Mento, PayPal, Billions, Gitcoin, and more.

Everyone’s out here making things happen, and we love to see it 🚀. Read all about it right here.

WAGMI (we are going to make an impact!)

xx Abeera & Sam

📣 Latest News
📚 What We’re Thinking About
🔈 Podcasts & Spaces
🚀 Opportunities & Calls to Act
🎪 Events
📡 On Our Radar
✨ And one more thing

📣 Latest News

Global Policy, Regulation, and Adoption News

Germany’s AllUnity launched Ba-Fin-Regulated Euro stablecoin EURAU

Stablecoin News

Stablecoin speeds up thanks to “AWS of crypto” Alchemy’s latest upgrade

Reports & Project Updates

Ethereum Localism x Regen Coordination - Gitcoin 3.0 Sensemaking Report - Gitcoin Grants
Strengthening American Leadership in Digital Financial Technology - The White House
- Key Takeaways via @RebeccaRettig1

📚 What We’re Thinking About

🦅 The U.S. passed its *first ever* national crypto law

It actually happened (BBC). On July 18, the president signed the GENIUS Act into law, the first-ever national crypto legislation (Investors’s Business Daily). Although the law specifically focuses on stablecoins, it nonetheless remains a milestone moment for the entire crypto space, not only laying the groundwork for stablecoin regulation, but also signaling a seismic shift in how Washington views digital assets. As Project Liberty put it, “this moment stands out not only for the scale of its impact on the crypto sector, but for what it signals more broadly: a new phase in the ongoing debate over how to regulate fast-moving digital technologies in ways that safeguard the public interest while enabling innovation.” The bill passed with rare bipartisan support, sparking what some dubbed “Crypto Week” on the Hill. Of course, not everyone’s cheering. Senator Elizabeth Warren’s STILL skeptical, and the bill glosses over major talking points like Trump’s mysterious Bitcoin reserve and the new crypto treasury (Decrypt, Cryptoslate). But love it or hate it, this is a pivotal moment for crypto, and the ripple effects will stretch far beyond U.S. borders.

🪙 Western Union might become crypto's global on/off-ramp

Western Union is eyeing a big move: opening its global payments network (200+ countries, 380K+ retail locations) as an on/off-ramp between fiat and stablecoins (Bloomberg). That means users could convert crypto to cash or vice versa through WU’s existing rails. CEO Devin McGranahan says they’re actively testing programs and running pilots in South America and Africa. Since Circle went public, “the phone has been ringing,” he noted. They’re exploring stablecoin treasury operations and buy-sell-hold functionality in digital wallets. Full roadmap drops Nov 6.

👤 Proof-of-Humanity <> Google

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) took a major step toward the mainstream. Google Cloud announced a major partnership with Self, a zk-powered identity layer, to implement proof-of-humanity infrastructure that works across both AI and Web3 tools (Self). This means users can now verify that they’re human (and uniquely so) without revealing any personal data. It’s not just a privacy win; it’s the beginning of a new verification stack for the internet.

The details are worth paying attention to. Google will integrate Self Protocol into its Web3 Portal’s AI search tools and use it to power a sanctions-compliant Testnet/Mainnet Faucet, thanks to Self’s ZK-backed OFAC exclusion proof system. Yes, that’s a mouthful, but the takeaway is clear: this isn't theoretical. ZK is being used now to solve real problems—like Sybil resistance, age verification, and identity assurance—in a way that doesn’t compromise user safety.

As bots, deepfakes, and synthetic media flood the web, traditional identity checks (checkboxes, photo uploads, ID scans) are failing us. As Celo’s Rene Reinsberg and Arktouros’ Jane Khodarkovsky wrote for The Hill, “Platforms now have access to privacy-preserving tools that respect both user autonomy and legal responsibility. There’s no excuse not to build better.” Builders like Reka are making the tech more accessible/comprehensible than ever (Seed Club), and even Vitalik recently flagged ZKID as a foundational layer for the AI era (vitalik.eth)

This Google x Self partnership is one of the clearest signs yet that ZK is fast becoming critical infrastructure for the next version of the internet, even beyond crypto circles. Expect more big names to follow.

🧬 AthenaDAO is bringing web3 to the frontlines of women’s health innovation

Big moment for DeSci: AthenaDAO was featured in USA TODAY for its work funding cutting-edge research on ovarian aging and menopause, areas historically underfunded despite massive health impact (USA Today). The article highlights how Athena-backed research is driving real innovation, including projects like LifeAhead, a longevity startup spun out of DAO-funded modeling work (@athena_DAO_). It’s a powerful example of a DAO making mainstream waves and pushing forward public health. Blockchain-backed biotech is here, it’s working, and it’s being recognized.

🌀 Is this Decentralized Social’s iPhone moment?

Coinbase is betting big on crypto as the social layer of the internet. Their new Base App, a rebrand of Coinbase Wallet, isn’t just a wallet anymore; it’s a full-blown social network “everything app” built on open protocols like Farcaster, Zora, and XMTP. You post, people engage, and you earn. No creator fund applications, no thresholds. It’s a deeply integrated experience where messaging, discovery, payments, and ownership all live in the same flow. Seed Club called it “the boldest bet in crypto UX history,” and for good reason: it’s the first real shot at a portable, interoperable social layer where creators can get paid instantly just for showing up and contributing.

The ripple effect is already visible. Shortly after, Farcaster launched Collectibles, a new feature that turns posts into 1-of-1 NFTs via 24-hour auctions (@farcaster_xyz). While Base aims for frictionless earning, Farcaster is leaning into emotional value: fans bid on posts that resonate with them, like buying art. It’s not just two apps vying for attention. Again, to quote Seed Club’s newsletter, it’s a clash of philosophies: invisible money flows vs. intentional patronage. Either way, the creator economy is being rewritten in real time, and the tools are finally catching up to the dream. (P.S. fellow SheFi girls, we get early access to Base!)

🛠 Gitcoin 3.0: Ethereum’s Coordination Engine Gets an Upgrade

Gitcoin is evolving (@gitcoin). Gitcoin 3.0 transforms it from a grants platform into a network-first coordination layer for Ethereum. The goal? Help the ecosystem fund its most urgent needs through pluralistic, community-driven capital allocation.

This chapter goes beyond quadratic funding. Gitcoin 3.0 embraces new funding mechanisms, invites structured “sensemaking” around real problems, and launches domain-based grant rounds grounded in ecosystem input.

With its restructured Grants program and a focus on legitimacy, experimentation, and scale, Gitcoin 3.0 aims to be a core pillar of Ethereum’s coordination stack. It's not just about “funding public goods,” it's about Ethereum funding itself, on its own terms.

Plus:

💸 A new integration between Airtm, Bridge (a Stripe company), and the Stellar blockchain is showing what the future of payroll can actually look like, and it’s not a proof of concept. It’s already live and scaling fast. (CoinDesk)
🌱 A Perspective from Afghanistan: What Is Celo and Why It Matters. (Celo Forum)
🏠 From automation to agency: Prototype for self-owning intelligent buildings enabled by blockchain. (Automation in Construction)
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Crypto innovation is as much about people as protocols. (HackerNoon)
🧠 Full-Stack Alignment: Co‑Aligning AI and Institutions with Thick Models of Value. (Meaning Alignment Institute)
✨ Why We Crypto. (Bitwise)

🔈 Watch & Listen

Crypto Altruists AutoPGF - Episode 5 - Vechain - Turning Everyday Impact into Crypto Rewards: Inside VeBetterDAO’s X-to-Earn Web3 Revolution
Crypto Altruists Podcast - Episode 213 - CARBON Copy - The State of ReFi in 2025: Trends, Challenges, and What’s Next for Web3-Regenerative Finance
Greenpill - Season 9 - Episode 2 - Reimagining Journalism with Emergent Technology
Crypto Altruists Podcast - Episode 212 - Elliptic - From Myanmar to Ukraine: How Crypto Is Powering Humanitarian Relief in Conflict and Disaster Zones
Crypto Altruists Podcast - Episode 211 - Moviepass & Mogul - How Web3 and AI are Revolutionizing the Film Industry - from Decentralized Film Finance to Onchain Ownership

🚀 Opportunities & Calls to Act

Apply: Centre for Public Impact is hiring a Senior Programme Manager, Europe.
Apply: Center for Humane Technology (CHT) is hiring a Principal Liaison for Tristan Harris (Co-Founder of CHT)
Learn: Kernel is a peer-to-peer learning community for technologists, researchers, builders, and artists shaping the future of the web. KB11 will bring together ~50 fellows to go deep on a clear research or product focus. (We are both Kernel fellows and are happy to share our experiences, if you have any questions about applying).
Incubate: The Blockchain for Good Alliance Incubation Program supports projects leveraging blockchain technology to solve real-world problems by offering expertise, resources, branding, and market support. Autumn 2025 Cohort applications close August 15.
Funding: The Stellar Community Launch QF Round is an initiative by the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) and Giveth to empower emerging event leaders around the world. They are looking for passionate community builders ready to host Stellar-focused educational events in new regions. This round is not only about funding; it’s a chance to be recognized as a potential chapter lead in the global Stellar Ambassador Program.

🎪 Events

🆕= New to the roundup this week

Virtual

2025 Grant Summit by Metagov is happening August 20-21. 🆕
The Future of Digital Finance: Emerging opportunities in India, in China and on the African continent is happening September 24.

IRL

DAO Berkeley 2025 is happening August 3 in Berkeley, California.
ETHSafari 2025 is happening September 7-14 in Nairobi.
Edge City Bhutan is happening September 14-21 in Paro, Gelephu, Thimphu, and other locations in Bhutan.
Africa Money & DeFi Summit West Africa is happening September 24-25 in Accra, Ghana. 🆕
The Aptos Experience is happening October 15-16 in NYC.
Progress Conference 2025 is happening October 16-19 in Berkeley.
Devconnect 2025 is happening November 17-22 in Argentina.
ETHBoulder is coming in 2026… 🆕

Recurring

Monthly Earth Day is a global event that happens on the 22nd every month, not just once a year. Get involved on August 22 and 🚨 check out the movement’s brand new website 🚨.

Hosting an event that you’d like to see listed? Reply here or send us a DM.

📡 On Our Radar

Offline Protocol is building a resilient, censorship-resistant ecosystem that empowers users to connect, communicate, and transact without relying on the internet or centralized services.
Celo Prosperity Pass Beta is a smart account wallet that brings all your Celo activity into one place to track, coordinate, and earn.
Decycle creates a closed-loop economy where stakers fund smart cans, users earn by recycling, collectors gather materials, and everyone shares in the value created—all while making measurable environmental impact. Turn recycling into a game with real impact. Earn $TRASH tokens to build your virtual ecosystem, collect rare eco-guardians, and directly fund environmental initiatives worldwide. Every action in-game creates measurable real-world change.
$REGEN is the native cryptocurrency of Regen Ledger, a proof-of-stake blockchain purpose-built for ecological assets. It secures network data and enables on-chain governance. It’s more than a coin: it’s the foundation for an economy where transactions are ecological actions and true wealth is built on measurable planetary repair.
Full-Stack Alignment from the Meaning Alignment Institute is a vision of a society where institutions are aligned with what truly matters to us and a collaborative research program offering concrete pathways to achieve it.