Web3 Prepares To Welcome The Consumer-Friendly L2 It’s Been Missing As Abstract Readies For Launch

There’s a handful of 2025 network launches that have been on everyone’s lips lately thanks to a combination of hype, high expectations, and the prospect of shiny new tech to play with. Near the top of that list for many industry players is Abstract (formerly Frame), the L2 that’s anything but just another L2.

Admittedly, its tech sounds familiar enough: built on zkSync’s ZK Stack and EigenLayer’s EigenDA, Abstract leverages zk-rollup technology to deliver a scalable, cost-efficient L2 tailored for consumer applications. But move up a level to the consumer layer and there’s a lot to be excited about, from original dapps to a radical governance model.

DWF Ventures are particularly excited about Abstract’s January launch, and when they’re bullish, it’s generally wise to take a closer look. So let’s do just that and get a handle on why Abstract is the network name on so many lips right now.

Abstract: The Big Picture

With its mainnet launch approaching and a vibrant ecosystem taking shape, Abstract is capturing the attention of developers and users alike – plus the aforementioned VCs. While the tech ticks all the right boxes in terms of scalability and speed – think near-instant transaction finality – it’s the governance that’s most intriguing. The Panoramic Governance, to be precise.

This groundbreaking dual-governance model aims to incentivize network participants and stimulate ecosystem growth. Participants are encouraged to engage in governance by voting for protocols that demonstrate both strong incentives and superior user experiences. Voters can direct token emissions to protocols they support, encouraging developers to innovate and contribute to the ecosystem’s success.

This creates a virtuous cycle where users and protocols mutually benefit, driving sustained growth for Abstract’s ecosystem.

As its team explains, “We intend for Abstract to set the standard for what it means to have a thriving onchain culture. It will be built for and with users and builders, regardless of their level of previous crypto experience.”

Dapps That Do Something Different

If you thought Abstract’s governance model was neat, wait till you hear about the projects building on it. We’ve got monsters.fun, which gamifies memecoin launchpads by allowing users to design and battle AI monsters that evolve over time. There’s REY, whose attention marketplace furnishes brands, creators, and consumers with innovative engagement tools. Noodles, meanwhile, lets users speculate on creator visibility on platforms like X, offering unique exposure to their accounts.

Whatever Abstract is, it’s not just another run-of-the-mill L2. Other dapps that have gotten the community fired up – as well as receiving a shout out from DWF Ventures – include Swipe, a prediction market that uses a swipe-based interface for short-term bets. Think Tinder meets web3 betting. And that’s just a taster of what’s in store: devs have been cooking for months on the Abstract testnet and this month they’ll finally be able to deploy their novel applications in a live environment.

As for the means by which users will be able to interact with all this stuff, the Abstract Global Wallet (AGW) enables seamless interaction without the need for browser extensions. Users can access their wallets via social accounts, simplifying onboarding, while there’s a built-in signer for streamlined transaction approvals.

Picture a world where logging into a DeFi app is as easy as signing into your favorite social media platform. That’s AGW’s promise, and it’s a big step toward mass adoption: frictionless onboarding for both crypto natives and novices. Tech that does what it’s supposed to do without taking over.

What’s Next for Abstract?

As the mainnet launch looms, Abstract isn’t letting up in its mission to nurture innovation through its Builder-in-Residence program and partnerships such as SeedifyFund’s Gem Factory. These initiatives are set to accelerate the emergence of groundbreaking ideas and products within the Abstract ecosystem – and for once that overused e-word is justified, for the number of projects building on Abstract is as vast as it is diverse.

As DWF Ventures aptly summarized, Abstract represents a “new paradigm of consumer apps.” Even if you aren’t big on buzzwords and have a long list of L2s still to explore, you’d do well to keep tabs on Abstract. There’s enough going on within its (here’s that word again) ecosystem to suggest it has an outsized chance of success. Come for the Panoramic Governance. Come for the swipe-right prediction markets.