Emerging projects aligned with Ethereum’s roadmap

These modular projects not only embrace the direction Ethereum is heading but also empower developers and investors to build scalable, efficient, and customisable networks. As Australia’s blockchain sector continues to mature, with increasing demand for secure and cost-effective infrastructure, platforms leveraging modular architecture could become foundational to the next generation of decentralised applications and services.

Decentralised finance (DeFi) applications built on Ethereum continue to lead in total value locked (TVL), offering diverse investment strategies from yield farming to synthetic assets. Projects such as Aave, Uniswap, and MakerDAO form the backbone of this sector. Token protocols associated with these platforms — AAVE, UNI, and MKR — not only reflect the growth of DeFi itself but also benefit from Ethereum’s scaling roadmap, as faster transactions and lower gas fees improve the user experience and attract broader participation. With Australians showing increased interest in self-custody and alternative finance tools, these protocols offer accessible yet powerful opportunities for yield-focused crypto strategies.

Emerging platforms such as StarkNet and Scroll are also drawing attention. These technologies are not just mimicry of Ethereum’s direction—they are integral to it. By advancing Ethereum-native scaling technologies and prioritising secure, low-latency infrastructure, these platforms are helping shape Ethereum into a modular hub of activity.

The move toward modularity also includes projects such as Polygon Avail, which provides scalable and secure data availability for rollups and other off-chain computation environments. It supports Ethereum’s transition to a rollup-centric roadmap by allowing dApps and new L2 chains to separate their data needs from execution, efficiently scaling without compromising security. As the local blockchain developer ecosystem matures, especially in cities like Sydney and Melbourne, Polygon Avail could become a key infrastructure provider for modular, Ethereum-aligned solutions.

As Ethereum moves toward a modular architecture, aiming to offload various layers of operation—such as execution, consensus, and data availability—to separate yet interoperable chains, certain cryptocurrencies are emerging as clear allies in this vision. These projects are architected with modularity in mind, making them primed to integrate with Ethereum’s evolving infrastructure and benefit from its increasing dominance in the smart contract ecosystem.

As Ethereum’s roadmap intensifies its focus on speed and scalability through rollups, zero-knowledge proofs, and modular execution, several standout projects are already redefining transaction finality and throughput. These initiatives are not just compatible with Ethereum—they’re turbocharging its capabilities from both Layer 1 and Layer 2 vantage points.

Cryptocurrencies leveraging modular blockchain architecture

These projects aren’t just solving Ethereum’s congestion—they’re actively unlocking use cases previously limited by speed and cost constraints. From Melbourne to Perth, Aussie developers and investors are increasingly tracking these scaling layers as key platforms for DeFi, NFTs and Web3 infrastructure. By integrating with Ethereum’s core, they ensure the ecosystem stays performant without compromising the decentralised ethos that underpins it all.

Layer 2 solutions such as Arbitrum and Optimism have already shown real-world adoption, not only by dApp developers but also through an influx of liquidity and user engagement. These platforms have launched their native tokens — ARB and OP respectively — which are increasingly being integrated into staking, governance, and incentive frameworks. For Australian investors seeking exposure to Ethereum’s extended utility, these tokens can serve as a strategic complement to ETH holdings, especially in diversified crypto portfolios.

Another emerging force is Fuel, a modular execution layer designed to work seamlessly with data availability layers like Celestia. Fuel aims to deliver high-performance transaction execution using an optimised virtual machine and UTXO-based structure. Australian Web3 developers focused on high-frequency DeFi protocols are beginning to look at Fuel’s performance model as a valuable alternative to traditional EVM-based platforms.

Celestia is at the forefront of the modular blockchain movement. Rather than acting as a smart contract platform, Celestia focuses on data availability — a critical layer in any modular stack. By decoupling data availability from block validation, Celestia allows developers in Australia and globally to build execution environments that don’t rely on monolithic chains, ultimately enabling faster development cycles and more scalable decentralised applications. This flexibility caters particularly well to Ethereum rollup projects seeking to offload data tasks and increase throughput.

Further aligned with Ethereum’s modular aspirations is zkSync, which leverages zero-knowledge rollups (zk-Rollups) to enable privacy-focused and high-speed transactions. Projects like zkSync represent a critical step toward Ethereum’s goal of a scalable and modular ecosystem, particularly given Australia’s growing interest in blockchain privacy compliance and user sovereignty.

Amid Ethereum’s ongoing evolution, the ecosystem surrounding it offers a broad spectrum of investment opportunities that are becoming increasingly attractive to both retail and institutional investors in Australia. As Ethereum shifts towards rollup-centric scalability and modular architecture, the most promising assets are not necessarily just ETH itself, but also the network of tokens, protocols, and infrastructure projects building on top of or in close alignment with Ethereum’s future direction.

Investment opportunities in the Ethereum ecosystem

On the infrastructure side, the growth of decentralised oracles and indexing services is another key area within Ethereum’s expanding footprint. Projects like The Graph (GRT) and Chainlink (LINK) play a critical role in delivering off-chain data to Ethereum-based smart contracts. As more financial services, identity protocols, and decentralised gaming projects are deployed, demand for these services is expected to grow. Many Australian investors already familiar with blockchain-based finance are beginning to view oracle providers less as niche tools and more as essential blockchain infrastructure plays.

Similarly, Arbitrum is another layer 2 contender making waves. It offers Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility, helping developers deploy their smart contracts without major modifications. Arbitrum is particularly attractive for projects in the DeFi space, which require both speed and reliability — two areas where it excels thanks to its cost-efficient rollup technology.

Ethereum-aligned stablecoins, such as DAI and USDC, are also facilitating more sophisticated investment strategies and commercial transactions within the ecosystem. In particular, DAI’s decentralised, collateral-backed model aligns well with the risk appetite of seasoned Australian crypto investors seeking alternatives to fiat-backed stable assets. These tokens act as on-chain capital bridges that enable a wide range of crypto-native financial instruments, from lending and trading to remittances and DAOs.

As Ethereum evolves through upgrades like the Merge and the upcoming Surge, emerging projects that align their technical development and long-term strategies with Ethereum’s objectives are gaining substantial traction. These projects often prioritise scalability, interoperability, and energy efficiency — the same pillars driving Ethereum’s roadmap forward.

Ultimately, Ethereum’s transformation is creating ripple effects across the broader crypto landscape. For investors in Australia, this spells opportunity — not just with ETH but through supporting assets that fuel its expanding ecosystem. As the regulatory environment matures and educational awareness increases domestically, market participants are expected to take more nuanced approaches to Ethereum-aligned investments, assessing not only technology but also tokenomics, team credibility, and long-term ecosystem fit.

There’s also a growing segment focused on liquid staking, an area poised for expansion as Ethereum solidifies its proof-of-stake model. Tokens like Lido (LDO) allow investors to stake ETH while maintaining liquidity — a compelling prospect for Australians who want ETH exposure but also desire financial flexibility. As staking becomes more user-friendly through integrations with major wallets and platforms used across Australia, such assets may become a staple in long-term crypto wealth strategies.

For Australian investors looking to align their portfolios with Ethereum’s future, these emerging projects present compelling opportunities. They are not just riding Ethereum’s coattails — they are building the rails for its next chapter, making them more resilient to volatility and more attuned to where the broader ecosystem is headed.

Cryptocurrencies aligning with Ethereum’s modular future

Meanwhile, Eclipse brings a fresh perspective by enabling customisable modular rollups using the Solana virtual machine. This unique approach allows developers to build modular chains that optimise specific use cases without being bound to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). While not purely Ethereum-native, Eclipse’s flexibility and modularity could offer attractive options for Australian developers seeking cross-chain compatibility between Ethereum and high-speed alternatives.

• Celestia (TIA) – As a blockchain purpose-built for modular data availability and consensus, Celestia offers a plug-and-play solution for developers to launch their own execution layers. Ethereum rollups like Optimism and Arbitrum could leverage Celestia’s scalable data availability while maintaining ties to Ethereum’s security, creating a decentralised yet cost-efficient system.
• Polygon (MATIC) – Already a major player in Ethereum scalability, Polygon’s approach to modularity through tools like Polygon SDK and its zkEVM shows a clear alignment with Ethereum’s long-term roadmap. MATIC serves as a key token in facilitating secure bridge interactions and rollup deployment on Ethereum-compatible chains.
• EigenLayer – While not a cryptocurrency in the traditional sense, EigenLayer introduces a re-staking mechanism that allows Ethereum validators to extend security to other networks and services. Projects aligning with this model could create new crypto-economic layers under Ethereum’s trust umbrella.
• Fuel Labs (Fuel) – Designed as a high-performance execution layer, Fuel is building on a modular-first philosophy. Its UTXO-based parallel transaction processing engine is highly compatible with Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap, offering a fast and scalable complement to Ethereum’s settlement layer.

As the concept of modular blockchains gains momentum, a growing number of cryptocurrencies are architecting their ecosystems to reflect this approach, which separates core blockchain functions — such as consensus, data availability, and execution — into distinct layers. This not only allows for greater scalability and specialisation but also positions these projects to interoperate more effectively with Ethereum’s modular design philosophy.

Top projects enabling Ethereum’s speed and scalability

One of the standout projects in this space is Optimism, a layer 2 scaling solution that utilises Optimistic Rollups. Optimism significantly reduces transaction costs and latency, aligning seamlessly with Ethereum’s push towards higher throughput and lower gas fees. Developers across Australia and globally are increasingly building decentralised applications (dApps) on Optimism because of its compatibility with Ethereum’s developer tools and existing infrastructure.

• Arbitrum (ARB) – One of the most widely adopted Layer 2 solutions for Ethereum, Arbitrum uses Optimistic Rollup technology to significantly reduce gas fees and increase throughput. With its Nitro upgrade, Arbitrum now processes transactions at speeds vastly exceeding Ethereum Layer 1, while inheriting Ethereum’s security guarantees.
• Optimism (OP) – Backed by a strong development community and now integrated with the OP Stack, Optimism aims to build a “Superchain” of interoperable rollups. The introduction of Bedrock enabled modular construction, faster syncing, and reduced costs—making it a top contender in the scalability conversation.
• zkSync Era – Built on zk-rollup technology, zkSync Era offers near-instant finality and Ethereum-level security with significantly lower fees. Its compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) allows seamless dApp migration, boosting network activity and scalability.
• Starknet – Leveraging STARK-based cryptographic proofs, Starknet enables Ethereum to scale while maintaining decentralisation and strong data integrity. Starknet is ideal for high-throughput applications such as decentralised games or financial platforms, and its development ecosystem continues to expand rapidly.
• Scroll – An emerging zkEVM solution, Scroll prioritises developer experience by integrating familiar Ethereum tools while scaling through zero-knowledge cryptography. It seeks to bridge the performance of zk-rollups with the flexibility of EVM ecosystems, making it one of the most developer-friendly L2s on the horizon.

Each of these projects contributes to Ethereum’s modular shift by offering specific enhancements—whether it’s streamlined execution, cost-effective data layers, or extended validator utility. For Australian crypto investors seeking long-term value, keeping an eye on these aligned assets provides an early-mover edge in a rapidly evolving modular ecosystem.