March 14, 2025

Moana 2, Better Man, The Electric State on Netflix, and every movie new to streaming this week

Each week on Polygon, we round up the most notable new releases to streaming and VOD, highlighting the biggest and best new movies for you to watch at home.

This week, Moana 2, the sequel to Disney’s animated splash hit starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Auliʻi Cravalho, finally comes to streaming (pun intended) on Disney Plus. There’s plenty of other exciting releases to choose from this week as well, including Anthony and Joe Russo’s The Electric State and the superhero action movie Kraven the Hunter on Netflix, the offbeat musical biopic Better Man on Paramount Plus, and much more. We’ve even got some some new releases available to rent on VOD, like the Oscar-winning drama I’m Still Here and the new horror thriller Borderline starring Samara Weaving (Ready or Not).

Here’s everything new that’s available to watch this weekend!

Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

Image: Netflix

Genre: Sci-fi adventureRun time: 2h 8mDirectors: Anthony Russo, Joe RussoCast: Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Anthony Mackie

Loosely based on Simon Stålenhag’s 2018 illustrated novel, the Russo brothers’ sci-fi adventure film stars Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things) as Michelle, an orphaned teenager living in a retrofuturistic world where robots have been banished in the wake of an attempted rebellion.

After befriending a mysterious robot with apparent knowledge of her missing brother, Michelle embarks on a journey to the fortified robot enclosure known as the “Electric State” in search of him. Chris Pratt co-stars as an eccentric smuggler who comes to Michelle’s aid on her quest, along with his robot partner (Anthony Mackie).

Where to watch: Available to stream on Netflix

Kraven (Aaron Taylor-Johnson) stands with his hands on a railing, wearing a sleeveless, open leather vest and showing off more abs than seems humanly possible in Kraven the Hunter

Photo: Jay Maidment/Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment via Everett Collection

Genre: Superhero actionRun time: 2h 7mDirector: J.C. ChandorCast: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ariana DeBose, Fred Hechinger

Following in the footsteps of Morbius and Madame Web, Kraven the Hunter is yet another Sony Spider-Man movie without Spider-Man in it. (And who knows? This might actually be the last one!) Aaron Taylor-Johnson stars as Kraven, who in this version gets some animal-like powers after being injected with a serum. He’s also a conservationist and animal lover, instead of a poacher who just wants to go after the most dangerous game. An antihero!

It’s a largely joyless affair, and Chandor can’t seem to decide on a dramatic or comedic tone, let alone a blend of the two. Taylor-Johnson often stands around delivering lines that seem intended to be catchphrases, but he does so with all the determination of someone who loathes the material. A quipper-hero Kraven is not, and neither is Taylor-Johnson. But then, practically every actor in the cast is entirely checked out. Rarely has a superhero movie featured this many talented performers phoning it in. But with such bland material, can you blame them?

Where to watch: Available to stream on Hulu

Genre: Horror thrillerRun time: 1h 44mDirector: Shal NgoCast: Kelly Marie Tran, Miles Robbins, Kieu Chinh

In this horror movie, a woman is tormented by an itch on the back of her head that she can’t scratch away. With a premise this relatable, this movie’s sure to cause even the most hardened horror viewer to squirm a little.

Where to watch: Available to stream on Max

Genre: Comedy horrorRun time: 1h 40mDirector: Craig JohnsonCast: Nik Dodani, Brandon Flynn, Brian Cox

Spending a weekend with your parents as an adult can be a little weird, but it’s particularly tough when the house you’ve rented for the event happens to be inhabited by a 400-year-old evil ghost. Then again, in this horror comedy, maybe even a ghost is better than spending too much time with family.

Where to watch: Available to stream on Disney Plus

Maui (voice of Dwayne Johnson), the long-haired, tattoo-covered demigod of the Moana movies, brandishes his giant hook weapon and smirks in Moana 2

Image: Walt Disney Animation

Genre: Musical adventureRun time: 1h 40mDirectors: David Derrick Jr., Jason Hand, Dana Ledoux MillerCast: Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Hualālai Chung

The Moana sequel was originally supposed to be a Moana Disney Plus show. But now it’s a full-fledged theatrical adventure, with Moana once again setting off on a sailing journey. This time, she’s joined by a ragtag crew, including a Maui fanboy, a quirky inventor, and a farmer who doesn’t know how to swim. Dwayne Johnson returns as Maui, too, and Moana and her friends search for a distant, legendary island in an effort to make contact with other people who might live on the islands in the sea.

Moana 2 may grow on me as well — frankly, my feelings for it could only go up from where they started. It’s been less than a day since I saw the long-awaited sequel (Disney screened the film for press just 17 hours ago), but unlike with the overwhelming let-me-hear-that-again rush of experiencing Moana for the first time, I don’t have the lingering gut feeling that I’ve missed something. In the end, Moana 2 is a vehicle for one banger, a feel-good throwback, and a few songs we’ll never talk about again, which doesn’t feel like enough for a brand-new Moana.

Where to watch: Available to stream on Paramount Plus

A monkey in a suit flanked by photographers in Better Man.

Image: Paramount Home Entertainment

Genre: Psychological dramaRun time: 2h 15mDirector: Michael GraceyCast: Robbie Williams, Jonno Davies, Steve Pemberton

Music biopics are getting a little same-y, which is exactly why Better Man tells the story of Robbie Williams by turning the British pop star into a CGI ape. That may sound bizarre, and it is, but the visual effect looks incredible and gives the movie plenty of room for creative and kinetic dance sequences set to Williams’ catalog of hits.

Where to watch: Available to stream on Criterion Channel

Two women staring at a red rice cooker in All We Imagine As Light.

Image: Janus Films

Genre: Romantic dramaRun time: 1h 58mDirector: Payal KapadiaCast: Kani Kusruti, Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam

This beguiling drama from writer-director Payal Kapadia centers on Prabha (Kani Kusruti) and Anu (Divya Prabha), two roommates who work together at a city hospital. Both women find themselves at a crossroads in their lives, forced to choose between their own hearts and their obligations to their respective families as they navigate a city rife with dreams, hopes, and illusions. All We Imagine as Light was one of the best-reviewed new movies of 2024.

Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

A family photo of a man, a woman, and their two children. The woman is staring off into the distance, while the other three family members smile at the camera.

Photo: Alile Onawale/Sony Pictures Classics

Genre: DramaRun time: 2h 17mDirector: Walter SallesCast: Fernanda Torres, Selton Mello, Fernanda Montenegro

Based on a memoir by Marcelo Rubens Paiva, Walter Salles’ Oscar-winning drama follows the story of a family living under the yoke of Brazil’s military dictatorship during the 1970s. When her husband (Selton Mello) is taken away for questioning, Eunice Paiva (Fernanda Torres) must gather her courage and steel herself to protect herself and her family from the worst that the world has to pit against them.

Where to watch: Available to rent on Amazon, Apple, and Vudu

A blonde haired woman (Samara Weaving) in a dark room holding a candle in Borderline.

Image: Magnet Releasing

Genre: Comedy thrillerRun time: 1h 34mDirector: Jimmy WardenCast: Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson, Jimmie Fails

Scream queen Samara Weaving (Ready or Not) is back in her second horror feature of 2024! Borderline centers on Sofia, a famous pop star who wakes up one night to discover that her home has been invaded by Duerson (Ray Nicholson), an obsessive fan who harbors delusions of them getting married. To survive, Sofia will have to use every ounce of her cunning and wits to escape her captor and find help.

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Coronation Street: When is Dee-Dee’s baby due? We have answers

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March 14, 2025

Coronation Street: When is Dee-Dee’s baby due? We have answers

In Coronation Street, Dee-Dee has reappeared on screen heavily pregnant after some time off screen, but when is her baby due?

Viewers will know that Dee-Dee is pregnant with Joel Deering’s baby, having plans to give her baby away when it’s eventually born.

But, with Dee-Dee now sporting a large baby bump, is her baby’s birth just around the corner? We have answers.

Dee-Dee is heavily pregnant (Credit: ITV)

Coronation Street: Dee-Dee’s pregnancy

A flashback to the night of Joel Deering’s death revealed that Dee-Dee had broke her celibacy and had slept with Joel.

With Joel then being killed by Lauren, Dee-Dee then found out that she was pregnant with his baby.

Initially planning on a termination of her pregnancy, Dee-Dee was convinced to go through with the pregnancy so that her baby could be baby Frankie’s donor.

Since then, Dee-Dee hasn’t been seen on screen as much over recent months but has now re-appeared with a rather large baby bump.

Tonight (Friday, March 14), Ed wondered if Dee-Dee was making the right decision in planning to have her baby adopted. Dee-Dee assured him that she was…

Dee-Dee hasn’t got long left to go (Credit: ITV)

Coronation Street: When is Dee-Dee’s baby due?

Dee-Dee revealed that she had broken the celibacy and slept with Joel in a flashback last year. She was seen holding a crowbar and blaming Joel for preying on her when she was at her lowest.

She’d come home from seeing a sick Paul and ended up sleeping with Joel, full of emotions.

After Joel’s death, Dee-Dee took a pregnancy test and found out that she was expecting.

Joel died on September 27th, and Dee-Dee had obviously already slept with him by this point.

Dee-Dee had last visited Paul on screen several weeks before that, with Paul dying at the start of September.

By this logic, Dee-Dee is now around 7-8 months pregnant, meaning that her due-date could either be in April or May. This means that she doesn’t have long left of her pregnancy until her baby’s birth!

Read more: David Platt exit storyline theories as Corrie legend Jack P Shepherd signs to Celebrity Big Brother

7 exciting Corrie spoilers for next week (March 17th-21st)

Coronation Street usually airs on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV.

What do you think of this story? Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know your thoughts!

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How to Make a Fruit Milkshake in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Gaming

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March 14, 2025

How to Make a Fruit Milkshake in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Fruit Milkshake is a 3-star Dessert Meal added with the A Rift in Time expansion. Players can make this meal for themselves to restore energy or gift it to villagers to increase their Friendship Level. However, this recipe is exclusive to the owners of the expansion. This guide will help you cook Fruit Milkshake in Disney Dreamlight Valley.

Required Ingredients to Make Fruit Milkshake in Disney Dreamlight Valley

Players can make a Fruit Milkshake Dessert meal with the following ingredients.

Slush Ice is the only Ice-type ingredient in the game and you can unlock it by completing the Level 10 Friendship Quest “The Unknown Flavor” for Remy. Upon completing the quest, it will be available for purchase at Chez Remy Restaurant for 150 Star Coins along with all other Dairy Ingredients.

Milk is a dairy product that you can purchase from Chez Remy restaurant for 230 Star Coins. For the final ingredient, you can use any 1 fruit. A few of the easiest fruits that you can get are Apples, Bananas, Blueberries, etc.

How to Cook Fruit Milkshake in Disney Dreamlight Valley

After gathering all the ingredients for the Fruit Milkshake, go to any Cooking Station to start making it. Go to any cooking station in the Valley/Eternity Isle and interact with it. After that, put the ingredients into the Cooking Pot individually and then select the “Start Cooking” option to cook the Fruit Milkshake Dessert Meal.

Use of Fruit Milkshake

Players can choose to eat the Fruit Milkshake to restore 1,113 Energy. Moreover, they can gift it to other villagers to increase their Friendship Level. Lastly, they can sell it to Goofy for 544 Star Coins.

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People Can Fly Announces Mystery New Game Based On An Existing PlayStation IP

Gaming

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March 14, 2025

Well, here’s a very interesting story: Polish developer People Can Fly has entered into an agreement with Sony Interactive Entertainment to produce a mystery game based on an existing PlayStation IP.

The new game is codenamed Project Delta and we know almost nothing else about it except that it’s based on a PlayStation owned IP.

That leaves a lot of room for speculation. People Can Fly has developed and co-developed a lot of games over the years, but typically gravitates toward first and third-person shooters – Gears of War: Judgement, Outriders and Bulletstorm, just to name a few. The company is also currently working with Microsoft studio The Coalition on the upcoming Gears of War: E-Day.

Given People Can Fly’s track record, then, can we safely assume the Sony IP in question will be a shooter of some sort? The options are quite varied: perhaps the return of Resistance or Killzone? Both would be fantastic to see come back. SOCOM is another possibility. Or maybe a Helldivers spin-off of some sort? Hell, it could even be a sequel to The Order: 1886

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Josie Gibson on cruel nickname she gave herself before her six stone weight loss

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March 14, 2025

Josie Gibson on cruel nickname she gave herself before her six stone weight loss

Josie Gibson has often spoken about her battle with her weight over the years, and previously revealed a cruel nickname she gave herself as a teenager.

Josie – who returns with a new episode of Around the World in First Class tonight (March 14) – now leads a healthy lifestyle. However, she has previously admitted to struggling with body image issues growing up.

In her 2014 book, The Josie Gibson Diet, the This Morning star opened up about her insecurities at a younger age.

Josie Gibson was brutally trolled for her weight (Credit: Splash News)

Josie Gibson and her friend labelled themselves ‘The Big Girls’

The TV presenter talked about her body image issues as an overweight teenager in her book. She revealed she and her close friend, J, would admire conventionally good-looking couples and wished they could have lived their lives.

An excerpt from the book revealed: “We met when we were teenagers and used to work the summer seasons in Ayia Napa together.”

We’d go out on the lash calling ourselves ‘The Big Girls’, joking with blokes that there was too much of us for them to handle.

Revealing the nickname they had given themselves, she wrote: “We’d go out on the lash calling ourselves ‘The Big Girls’, joking with blokes that there was too much of us for them to handle.”

However, Josie and her friend secretly struggled with insecurities and low self-esteem.

In the book, she added: “But in secret, in those searingly honest moments you only have with your closest friends who you know will never judge you after a few bevvies, we’d talk about how we longed to be loved and how we’d love to be part of a couple like the ones we saw on our nights out.”

Furthermore, describing the couples she admired, Josie said: “You know the ones I mean: he’s tall and handsome, she’s petite and sexy, they walk down the street holding hands, or maybe he has his hand placed delicately in the small of her back. They both know they’re good-looking, he’s proud to have her on his arm and she’s proud to be there.”

Josie Gibson on This Morning — Josie attributes her weight loss to healthier choices (Credit: ITV)

‘I didn’t get a gastric bypass’

However, with consistency, a healthy lifestyle and watching what she eats, Josie is now fitter than ever. Over the years, she has undergone a drastic transformation.

TV favourite Josie, who was a size 18 when she shot to fame on Big Brother, dropped six stone back in 2013. “I first embarked on a weight-loss journey in 2013 when I shed six stone over a year with a combination of healthy eating and exercise,” she told Closer.

Then in 2016, Josie went under the knife to remove excess skin following her weight loss. “I’ve had 6lbs of skin cut away! But I’m probably several pounds heavier than I was because I’ve not done any exercise. I reckon I am a big size 12,” she said.

In January 2021, Josie revealed she had dropped another 10lbs on Weight Watchers. “I can’t tell you the difference it’s made to my energy,” she said.

The star previously addressed rumours she’d had bariatric surgery, revealing: “I didn’t get a gastric bypass; I got off my big [bleep], moved more, ate less and educated myself on what I was stuffing into my body.”

Read more: This Morning host Josie Gibson shares full extent of holiday horror accident: ‘The pain is excruciating’

Around the World in First Class is on Fridays at 8pm on Channel 5.

Share your thoughts on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix.

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What Happened To Earth In Hulu’s Paradise – SlashFilm

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March 14, 2025

Hulu

The following contains heavy spoilers for season 1 of “Paradise.”

The thrilling new Hulu series “Paradise” has set the bar as the best new TV show of 2025. The series quickly became appointment television, a perfectly timed show with poignant and sharp commentary on our current political hellhole, but also one with great character drama, and one of the best twists in a TV show in years.

“This is Us” creator Dan Fogelman delivers a compelling story amidst a mystery that evolves into something bigger. The show follows Sterling K. Brown’s Xavier Collins, a former Secret Service agent who fails at his job and allows President Cal Bradford (James Marsden) to be murdered. The rest of the season involves Xavier’s investigation into who killed the president, while the larger narrative of the show also explores what exactly happened that ended the world. Yes, ended.

As we learn in the first episode, the town Xavier and the president lived in is actually a massive secret underground bunker created after some world-ending disaster. But what exactly happened to end civilization as we know it? That’s one of the big mysteries of “Paradise” season 1, a puzzle that is very clearly explained in the TV show, leaving zero doubt as to what or how it happened. If you somehow still don’t know what happened, or you’re just not watching the show but are Googling to pretend you know what the show is as to not miss out on the conversation, here’s a guide to “Paradise.”

How the world ended in Paradise

Cal and Xavier watch a TV monitor surrounded by concerned people in Paradise

Hulu

In episode 7, titled “The Day,” we flash back to, well, the day — of the end of the world. It began with a supervolcano eruption in the Antarctic, which triggered a tsunami 300 feet high. Though entire nations were fully aware this environmental disaster would happen, they are all apparently shocked that the eruption didn’t exactly follow their predictions and happened earlier than anticipated.

Throughout the episode, we see terrifying news footage of entire coastlines and even whole countries now being underwater. It’s an episode that doesn’t feel the need to show the disaster (outside of a brief, dark shot) but still feels as epic and thrilling as a Roland Emmerich movie. Under the thrills, however, lies also a compelling story of a man desperately trying to get together with his wife, a story of an employee who has seen disaster come and go and refuses to believe this is it, and many other small stories that convey the idea that this is what matters most that is being lost — people.

The destruction of most farmland prompts nations all around the world to do what they do best — make stupid decisions. War begins, as hungry nations anticipate a future battle for resources and begin brabbing and securing their future (by launching nukes that end that future).

While heading to the special bunker made for politicians and tech oligarchs, President Bradford makes his final on-the-surface executive decisions and chooses not to launch the nukes but instead trigger an electromagnetic pulse that disables the world’s electronics.

How bad is the surface now?

President Bradford is surrounded by concerned officials in Paradise

Hulu

Wondering about the surface raises plenty of other questions. We don’t know how many nukes still reached the U.S. before the electronics went out, but we do know that there are some areas less apocalyptic than others. Most importantly, we know that there are survivors out there, including whole settlements in Atlanta, where Collins’ wife Teri (Enuka Okuma) is presumably alive and well.

Still, that doesn’t mean the country is still intact, for there was also the damage from the tsunami that most definitely destroyed most of the country. We have seen glimpses of what lies beyond the walls of the bunker, and it seems like plenty of buildings are still around. The big city doesn’t look entirely desolate.

What happens when the people of Paradise and the people of the outside world discover each other’s existence? Will outsiders try to force their way inside the bunker, or will the townsfolk try to leave? “Paradise” needs to explore the state of the outside world, and thankfully it will have time for it when the show returns for season 2.

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What Is the Pectra Upgrade? Inside Ethereum’s Future Roadmap – Decrypt

Web3

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March 14, 2025

What Is the Pectra Upgrade? Inside Ethereum’s Future Roadmap – Decrypt

In brief

Proposed in November 2023, the Pectra upgrade follows March 2024’s Dencun upgrade and is scheduled for rollout in March 2025.
Pectra is the third significant upgrade since the merge in 2022, which saw Ethereum move from a proof-of-work algorithm to proof-of-stake.
Pectra improves network performance and user experience by merging the Prague and Electra upgrades.
Key features include account abstraction, smart contract optimizations, and improved staking.
Stakers benefit from higher validator limits, from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH, and flexible withdrawals.

The Ethereum ecosystem is continuously evolving. The latest milestone in its development is the Pectra upgrade.

Set for March 2025, the Pectra upgrade merges the Prague and Electra upgrades, which were originally planned as separate updates but were combined for better integration and to enhance scalability, efficiency, and usability.

The Pectra Upgrade introduces account abstraction for flexible gas payments, enhancements to smart contracts, improved staking options, and technical upgrades like Verkle trees and PeerDAS to optimize data management and layer-2 support. We will explain all of these concepts below.

What is the Ethereum Pectra upgrade?

The Ethereum Pectra upgrade enhances the network’s scalability, efficiency, and staking flexibility. Pectra expands storage capacity for layer-2 solutions while reducing fees.

One of Pectra’s most user-friendly improvements is flexible gas payments. In Ethereum, “gas” refers to transaction fees that compensate validators for securing the network. With account abstraction, Pectra allows users to pay these fees using ERC-20 tokens like USDC instead of being restricted to ETH. Account abstraction simplifies Ethereum transactions by making wallets function more like smart contracts, offering more control over how transactions are executed.

The Pectra upgrade also introduces Peer Data Availability Sampling or PeerDAS. PeerDAS improves Ethereum’s scalability by allowing nodes to verify transaction data without storing it entirely, making the network more efficient.

Another improvement is Verkle Trees, a new data structure that combines Vector Commitments and Merkle Trees, and provides a more efficient data storage upgrade for Ethereum. Verkle Trees optimize information storage and verification, significantly reducing the amount of data validators need to keep while allowing quick and secure access to network information.

When will Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade happen?

The Ethereum Pectra upgrade is expected to occur in mid-March 2025, and will be implemented in two phases. Phase 1 will introduce key improvements, such as doubling layer-2 blob capacity from three to six to reduce congestion and fees, enabling Account Abstraction to allow gas payments in tokens like the DAI and USDC stablecoins, and increasing the maximum staking limit from 32 to 2,048 ETH to simplify large-scale validator operations.

Phase 2, anticipated in late 2025 or early 2026, will implement advanced optimizations, including PeerDAS and Verkle Trees, to improve data storage and network efficiency.

The last major Ethereum upgrade, Dencun, took place on March 13, 2024. It introduced proto-danksharding, which reduces transaction costs for layer-2 blockchains using temporary data called binary large objects or ‘blobs.’ Instead of relying on permanent on-chain storage, these blobs minimize network congestion, improving scalability and setting the stage for upgrades like Pectra.

How does the Pectra upgrade work?

Key features of Pectra

Account Abstraction: This feature enables gas payments using multiple tokens (e.g., USDC, DAI) and allows third-party fee sponsorship.
Smart Contract Optimizations (EIP-7692): Enhances Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) efficiency.
Validator Upgrades:

EIP-7002: Enables flexible staking withdrawals.
EIP-7251: Increases validator staking limits from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH.

Data Storage Enhancements:

Verkle Trees: Reduces storage requirements and improves transaction processing.
PeerDAS: Enhances Layer 2 scalability and reduces network congestion.

pectra is shaping up to a BIG upgrade, possibly the largest in ethereum’s history, so let’s review all the code changes that are going into pectra so far and what is still TBD: ⚡️🧵

— Christine Kim (@christine_dkim) June 6, 2024

What Ethereum Improvement Proposals are part of the Pectra upgrade?

The Pectra upgrade introduces several Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) to enhance wallet usability, staking, and scalability.

EIP-7702 temporarily functions as smart contracts for externally owned accounts (EOAs), simplifying transactions and replacing the now-deprecated EIP-3074.
EIP-7251 increases the maximum stake per validator from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH, which helps reduce congestion.
EIP-7002 improves the process of validator exits, making it more efficient for staking providers.
EIP-7742 enhances Layer-2 scalability by doubling transaction throughput, increasing blob capacity, and lowering fees.
EIP-2537 introduces improvements for cryptographic efficiency.
EIP-2935 provides a mechanism for storing historical block hashes on-chain.
EIP-6110 simplifies the process of validator deposits.

How will the Pectra upgrade affect users?

The Pectra upgrade is expected to benefit Ethereum users in several ways, including transaction batching, new recovery options, and new wallet types.

Once the Pectra upgrade comes online, Ethereum users may see lower or even zero gas fees as third-party services and decentralized applications will have the option to sponsor transaction fees, potentially eliminating transaction fees in some cases.

Pectra also introduces new wallet features to improve Ethereum’s usability and accessibility, including transaction batching, which allows the bundling of multiple transactions into one, reducing costs and improving efficiency.

Social recovery provides a safety net for lost private keys by enabling trusted contacts to help restore access to a wallet, while native multisig (multi-signature) wallets enhance security by requiring multiple approvals before executing a transaction, making funds safer from unauthorized access.

Potential challenges of the Pectra upgrade

Ethereum developers expect a smooth Pectra rollout, but key risks remain. According to a June 2024 report by Obol and Liquid Collective, client diversity is a concern, as a bug in a dominant client could destabilize the network. Operator centralization may also increase slashing risks if staking consolidates under fewer entities. Cloud reliance on providers like AWS and Hetzner also poses outages and security vulnerabilities, impacting validator uptime and network resilience.

Another challenge is that the Pectra upgrade’s wallet verification changes could expose outdated protocols to exploits if they are not updated in time. Meanwhile, raising staking limits may encourage centralization, concentrating power among larger players and attracting regulatory scrutiny. Slow adoption of distributed validator technology, which mitigates single points of failure and reduces the risks of centralized control, could weaken network resilience.

Testnet teething troubles

Those challenges became apparent in February 2025, when the Pectra upgrade was activated on Ethereum’s Holesky testnet, but failed to achieve finality—the point when a transaction is confirmed and permanently recorded on the blockchain. While it represents a setback, testnets “exist to find issues,” said Georgios Konstantopoulos, general partner and chief technology officer at crypto investment firm Paradigm.

Ethereum devs opted to delay the Pectra launch in order to test the upgrade on a “shadow fork” of the Holesky testnet, a stopgap duplicate that enabled testing to continue while waiting for the the Holesky testnet proper to achieve finality—which it ultimately did on March 10, more than two weeks after it was first activated.

This isn’t the first time that an Ethereum upgrade has failed to achieve finality on testnet; in March 2024, the network’s Dencun upgrade suffered a similar hiccup when it went live on the Goerli testnet.

The next phase of preparations will see the launch of a dedicated testnet for the Pectra upgrade, codenamed Hoodi, on March 17. Developers are eyeing April 25 as the launch date for Pectra on mainnet, if all goes to plan.

ACDE Recap

A new testnet, Hoodi, is going live Monday to wrap up Pectra testing, if you need to test validator exits, be on the lookout for it! Everything else can be tested on Sepolia & Holesky.

Pectra will be scheduled 30+ days after Hoodi forks successfully, pending infra… pic.twitter.com/FK05GmtPnk

— timbeiko.eth (@TimBeiko) March 13, 2025

The future of Ethereum after Pectra

The Pectra upgrade marks an essential step in Ethereum’s roadmap, and aligns with its long-term vision of scalability, security, and decentralization. As part of Ethereum’s transition toward a more efficient network, Pectra lays the groundwork for future updates.

In January 2025, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin addressed concerns about ETH’s price and the impact of layer-2 scaling solutions on the network’s economics. Buterin emphasized the need for L2 networks to support ETH’s value by burning some of their fees or staking them for the community’s benefit.

“We should think explicitly about the economics of ETH,” Buterin wrote. “We need to make sure that ETH continues to accrue value even in an L2-heavy world, ideally solving for a variety of models of how value accrual happens.”

Buterin also called for standardizing cross-chain features, enhancing interoperability, and prioritizing security to prevent censorship on layer-2 chains. Signifying the moment’s importance, Buterin likened it to a “wartime mode,” underscoring his commitment to addressing these challenges head-on and driving Ethereum’s development forward.

This article was originally published in February 2025 and updated on March 14, 2025.

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My Pet Hooligan to Launch on Studio Chain

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March 14, 2025

My Pet Hooligan to Launch on Studio Chain

The Karrat Foundation has announced a partnership with the Arbitrum Foundation to launch Studio Chain, a blockchain network designed for gaming and entertainment.

Built on Arbitrum’s Ethereum layer-2 scaling technology, Studio Chain will integrate blockchain elements into video games, with My Pet Hooligan as its flagship title.

The collaboration aims to introduce web3 capabilities to gaming, allowing players to engage with digital assets and transactions within a structured ecosystem.

What is My Pet Hooligan?

My Pet Hooligan is a multiplayer action game developed by AMGI Studios. It combines battle royale-style combat with interactive storytelling, allowing players to engage in dynamic in-game experiences. The game has attracted over 500,000 downloads on the Epic Games Store and has been noted for its stylized visuals and fast-paced gameplay.

AMGI Studios has secured funding from investors, including Paris Hilton and members of Coldplay, to further develop the game and its blockchain integration. The studio aims to enhance the gaming experience by introducing digital asset ownership whilst ensuring that gameplay remains uninterrupted.

Instead of embedding web3 features directly into console versions, blockchain interactions will occur through external platforms such as the My Pet Hooligan web portal.

What’s next for My Pet Hooligan?

With the integration of Studio Chain, My Pet Hooligan is expected to expand beyond its current PC availability. Plans include a release on Xbox and additional gaming platforms, broadening its audience and accessibility. The game’s web3 elements, such as digital asset ownership and blockchain-based transactions, will be managed externally to comply with platform restrictions while maintaining blockchain interoperability.

“Studio Chain and the My Pet Hooligan franchise bring with them a rich source of content and culture that we’re thrilled to add to the Arbitrum ecosystem,” said Jack Fitzpatrick, Partnerships Manager at Offchain Labs. “We’re excited to see how this collaboration will enable truly innovative player and creator experiences.”

Whilst Studio Chain is entering a competitive blockchain gaming space, its developers emphasize that their goal is not direct competition but the creation of a specialised blockchain environment for entertainment applications. With shifts in the traditional gaming industry, including studio closures and funding challenges, projects like Studio Chain aim to provide alternative methods for funding and audience engagement.

“By leveraging Arbitrum’s powerful infrastructure, we’re able to create gaming experiences that were previously impossible,” said Luke Paglia, Co-founder and COO of AMGI Studios. “My Pet Hooligan is just the beginning—this collaboration enables seamless in-game asset ownership, true player-driven interactive extensions, and enhanced interoperability that will transform how audiences engage with entertainment.”

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How TermMax Transforms DeFi with One-Click Leveraging and Fixed Rates

Metaverse

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March 14, 2025

How TermMax Transforms DeFi with One-Click Leveraging and Fixed Rates

by
Victoria d’Este

Published: March 14, 2025 at 11:24 am Updated: March 14, 2025 at 11:25 am

by Ana

Edited and fact-checked:
March 14, 2025 at 11:24 am

In Brief

TermMax revolutionizes DeFi with one-click leveraging, fixed-rate lending, and tokenized strategies, simplifying borrowing while enhancing capital efficiency and market accessibility.

The emergence of decentralized finance is breaking new ground by making financial instruments more accessible. One of the most recent breakthroughs in the area is TermMax, a next-generation loan automated market maker based on Uniswap V3. This platform facilitates DeFi borrowing, lending, and leveraging by offering one-click token trading, customized pricing curves, and fixed/variable rate options.

TermMax simplifies the process of engaging with decentralized financial instruments by eliminating the complications involved with traditional borrowing and lending. Through a revised AMM paradigm, customers may engage in efficient capital management without having to navigate various protocols.

Problems to Solve

Complexity of Leveraged Yield Strategies

Leveraged yield strategies have traditionally necessitated complex, multi-step procedures involving several DeFi platforms. To optimize profits, users must furnish collateral, borrow against it, reinvest borrowed assets, and repeat the process. This intricacy not only raises transaction costs but also restricts access to expert traders.

Managing such strategies necessitates ongoing monitoring and modifications. Users must monitor collateral ratios, interest rate swings, and market movements, making it tough for newbies to participate.

Uncertainty Due to Floating Interest Rates

Traditional DeFi financing is based on variable interest rates, which leads to volatility in borrowing costs and investment returns. Rate swings can have a considerable influence on profit margins, especially in leveraged positions where slight changes in borrowing rates can result in large net profits or losses.

Without known borrowing costs, customers find it difficult to develop a long-term strategy. This unpredictability raises hurdles to wider DeFi adoption and discourages involvement from users seeking consistent rewards.

Inflexible AMM Pricing

Most AMMs employ predetermined price curves that do not necessarily represent actual market circumstances. As a result, instead of being able to set their own conditions, both borrowers and lenders are bound by the AMM’s rates.

Traditional AMMs promote liquidity above customization, restricting players’ capacity to refine their strategies. Lack of pricing flexibility leads to inefficient capital deployment and inferior rewards for market players.

Limited Liquidation Flexibility

DeFi lending platforms have generally relied on liquidation mechanisms, which do not always ensure lenders receive sufficient payments when collateralized assets lose value. In many circumstances, collateral is limited to highly liquid assets, which exclude real-world assets and low-liquidity tokens. This restriction lowers borrowing and lending options for customers with a broad asset portfolio.

TermMax Solutions

TermMax offers innovative tokenized solutions that turn complicated leveraging into simple transactions. Gearing Tokens (GT) and Fixed-Rate Tokens (FT) enable customers to get leverage and fixed-income possibilities via token transactions rather than typical multi-step interactions.

By packaging these financial mechanisms in tradeable tokens, TermMax eliminates the need for consumers to manually interact with various DeFi systems. This process simplification minimizes friction, decreases gas costs, and makes leveraged yield options more accessible.

Fixed Rates and Terms for Borrowing and Lending

The implementation of fixed borrowing and lending rates helps to reduce the dangers associated with variable interest rates. Users may lock in borrowing prices and lending returns for predetermined periods of time, giving them more certainty and control over their investing strategy.

Fixed-rate financing helps both the lender and the borrower. Lenders benefit from consistent profits without having to worry about shifting interest rates, and borrowers may manage leverage more efficiently because their expenses stay constant over time.

Customizable AMM Pricing with Range Orders

TermMax, unlike standard AMMs, allows customers to set tailored pricing using range orders. Market makers can set preferred price ranges, and aggregated liquidity within these ranges improves borrowing and lending conditions for everyone involved.

This customization allows for more effective capital allocation since users may specify their own acceptable lending or borrowing conditions rather than accepting fixed AMM-determined rates. Flexible pricing improves capital efficiency and creates a more dynamic market structure.

Flexible Liquidation Mechanism and Physical Delivery

TermMax implements a physical delivery liquidation mechanism, guaranteeing that lenders get immediate recompense in the case of a serious market collapse or liquidity shortage. Instead of depending primarily on liquidation auctions or price-based liquidations, lenders can receive collateral physically.

This method increases investment opportunities by supporting a larger range of assets, such as RWAs and low-liquidity tokens. It enables customers to collateralize a wide range of assets, opening up new applications beyond typical DeFi services.

Extending the DeFi Ecosystem with TermMax

The implementation of tokenized leverage strategies, fixed-rate borrowing, and customizable AMM pricing models promotes a more inclusive and efficient DeFi ecosystem. TermMax lowers the entrance hurdle for individuals unfamiliar with sophisticated DeFi mechanisms, allowing for more involvement in decentralized financial markets.

TermMax is an appealing alternative to traditional DeFi lending platforms, offering streamlined interactions, predictable borrowing prices, and increased liquidity methods. With unique features like Gearing Tokens, Fixed-Rate Tokens, and physical delivery collateralization, the platform offers a more sustainable and user-friendly approach to DeFi borrowing and lending.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

About The Author

Victoria is a writer on a variety of technology topics including Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for the wider audience.

Victoria d’Este

Victoria is a writer on a variety of technology topics including Web3.0, AI and cryptocurrencies. Her extensive experience allows her to write insightful articles for the wider audience.

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Lummis’ Bitcoin Act Could Make the US the Largest Bitcoin Holder

Metaverse

Metaverse Fashion Week Online

March 14, 2025

Lummis’ Bitcoin Act Could Make the US the Largest Bitcoin Holder

by
Victoria d’Este

Published: March 14, 2025 at 11:21 am Updated: March 14, 2025 at 11:22 am

by Ana

Edited and fact-checked:
March 14, 2025 at 11:21 am

In Brief

Senator Cynthia Lummis’ BITCOIN Act aims to make the US the largest Bitcoin holder by acquiring 1 million BTC and integrating it into national reserves for financial security.

US Senator Cynthia Lummis has reintroduced the BITCOIN Act, an important piece of legislation that would allow the US government to buy and store over 1 million Bitcoins in strategic reserves. Originally proposed in July, this measure has been revised and reintroduced in March 2025 with numerous additional clauses. The BITCOIN Act, which has received strong support from a number of Republican Senators, is a key step toward incorporating Bitcoin into the nation’s financial and strategic structure.

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Complexity of Leveraged Yield Strategies

Uncertainty Due to Floating Interest Rates

Inflexible AMM Pricing

Limited Liquidation Flexibility

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Flexible Liquidation Mechanism and Physical Delivery

Extending the DeFi Ecosystem with TermMax

Disclaimer

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