The first quarter of 2025 has been a pivotal period for Pastel Network as we progress toward Pastel 2.0, an evolution designed to bring greater scalability, interoperability, and modularity to our ecosystem. By leveraging the Cosmos SDK, Pastel 2.0 is laying the foundation for a more efficient, developer-friendly, and decentralized network, unlocking new opportunities for builders and users alike.
Technical Development: Preparing for the Pastel 2.0 Testnet
Our team has been fully focused on preparing the Pastel 2.0 testnet, which is set to launch soon. We are collaborating with 30+ validators to establish a secure and decentralized network, ensuring optimal performance and stability. These validators will play a crucial role in securing transactions, facilitating governance, and maintaining network integrity as we transition to a more advanced infrastructure.
A key technical milestone has been the integration of Cosmos SDK to enhance network modularity and enable interoperability across different blockchain environments. This upgrade brings more flexibility for developers, allowing them to build applications that seamlessly interact with Pastel’s decentralized storage, content authentication, and AI-driven insights.
Importantly, the core modules that the Pastel community knows and loves — Cascade (decentralized permanent storage), Sense (AI-powered content authentication), and Inference (LLM & AI services) — will continue to exist and remain easily accessible in Pastel 2.0. These technologies will be further optimized to take advantage of the enhanced scalability and efficiency of our new architecture, ensuring seamless access to decentralized storage, content security, and AI-powered utilities for developers and users alike.
Additionally, we are working to integrate with several multi-chain wallets, ensuring broader accessibility and a seamless user experience across various blockchain ecosystems. This effort aligns with our long-term vision of making PSL more versatile and usable across multiple platforms.
Business Development: Expanding the Pastel 2.0 Ecosystem
On the business front, we are forging strategic partnerships to expand the Pastel 2.0 ecosystem. One of our key initiatives is the development of a DeFi application, which will introduce new utility for PSL by enabling staking, liquidity incentives, and cross-chain functionality. This marks an important step in increasing PSL’s role in decentralized finance, allowing users to participate in a growing ecosystem of financial tools and services.
We are also seeing strong support from our validator partners, who are not only helping to secure the network but are also actively engaged in governance and ecosystem expansion. Their involvement ensures that Pastel 2.0 remains decentralized, resilient, and aligned with the interests of its stakeholders.
In addition, our collaboration with several multi-chain wallets has been instrumental in expanding Pastel 2.0’s accessibility. These integrations will enable seamless asset management, cross-chain interactions, and a smoother user experience, helping to onboard new users and developers into the Pastel ecosystem.
Looking Ahead
With the testnet launch approaching, we are entering an exciting new phase of development. As we refine our technology, expand our validator network, and onboard ecosystem partners, Pastel 2.0 is positioned to become a powerful and scalable blockchain solution.
Community Growth
In Q1, Pastel saw substantial strides in community engagement. Key highlights include:
Exclusive Quests & AMA
We introduced Pastel 2.0 Coin — a new way to reward our most active and dedicated community members. Community members can now earn coins by completing tasks, participating in events, and engaging actively within the server. These coins can be redeemed for exclusive rewards and perks.
We also hosted an in-depth AMA on Pastel’s Transition to Pastel 2.0 on March 21st! During the session, we covered key topics such as the Phased Migration & Timelines, the Impact on PSL holders, and the role of Validators in maintaining Network Security. If you missed it, you can watch the replay here 👀.
Media Engagement
Co-founder Anthony Georgiades shared insights with CoinDesk about the potential of a U.S. strategic crypto reserve and the risks of nationalizing altcoins. He was also featured in Decrypt discussing how AI agents are transforming cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, co-founder Jeffrey Emmanuel appeared on Bankless to discuss breakthroughs in AI and what’s next for Pastel’s Inference Protocol.
Events
We had a strong presence at ETH Denver, where we connected with the community, showcased Pastel’s latest innovations, and engaged in meaningful discussions about the future of Web3. We also participated in a 𝕏 Spaces with Web3 Global Media, featuring projects like PawChain, Taraxa Project, LetsExchange, StohnCoin, DaffiOne, and Pastel Network.
What’s Brewing for the Community?!
As we move forward, Pastel is committed to taking community engagement to the next level. We are thrilled to launch a new Foundry program, which will provide our community with unique opportunities to collaborate, create, and contribute directly to the network’s growth. This program will be designed to incentivize innovation, reward active participants, and foster a stronger sense of ownership and belonging within the Pastel ecosystem.
In addition, we’ll be rolling out massive airdrop campaigns that will reward existing PSL holders and incentivize new users to join the Pastel community. These airdrops will be strategically designed to maximize engagement, spread awareness, and encourage further participation in the network.
Furthermore, new partnerships within the Cosmos ecosystem are on the horizon, which will open up exciting cross-chain collaboration opportunities. These partnerships will enable Pastel to expand its reach, enhance interoperability, and increase exposure to new users and communities. We see this as a significant step toward connecting with a broader audience and strengthening Pastel’s position in the multi-chain ecosystem.
Through these initiatives, we aim to create a more dynamic, engaged, and diverse community that is not only growing in size but also in value. We are committed to rewarding our most loyal members, expanding our user base, and continuously improving the experience for everyone involved. The future is bright, and we’re just getting started! 🚀
What remains unchanged is our commitment to the technologies that make Pastel unique — Cascade, Sense, and Inference will continue to be core components of the network, accessible to developers and users who rely on them today.
Pastel 2.0 is more than just an upgrade — it’s a bold leap into the future of decentralized technology. With a powerful new architecture, growing validator support, game-changing integrations, and a vibrant, engaged community, we’re laying the groundwork for something truly transformative. From DeFi and multichain access to community-driven innovation and AI-powered infrastructure, the pieces are in place. The testnet is just the beginning — the real momentum is only just starting. Buckle up — the next chapter of Pastel is going to be epic. 🚀
Stay tuned for what’s to come!
