Deep Dive
1. Developer Course Launch (27 November 2025)
Overview: Binance Academy, in collaboration with the Marlin Foundation, launched a free curriculum titled "Off-chain Computing Using TEE Coprocessors." This course is designed to teach Web2 and Web3 developers how to build scalable decentralized applications (DApps) by leveraging off-chain computation within Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs).
The course includes practical modules for deploying AI and DeFi applications on the BNB Chain. It covers the theoretical need for off-chain solutions and the security benefits of TEEs, which allow sensitive data and computations to be processed in a hardware-isolated, verifiable environment.
What this means: This is bullish for POND because it directly invests in developer adoption and ecosystem growth. By lowering the barrier to building on its network, Marlin can attract more projects that require its confidential compute services, potentially increasing demand for the POND token used for network fees and staking.
(Source)
2. TEE-CVM Infrastructure Scaling (3 August 2025)
Overview: Marlin reported significant scaling of its Trusted Execution Environment - Confidential Virtual Machine (TEE-CVM) infrastructure. The network reached 873 confidential compute instances, which had processed more than 7,000 jobs across over 20,000 virtual CPUs, primarily for sensitive AI workloads.
This scaling demonstrates the network's capacity to handle real-world, compute-intensive tasks that require both privacy (via hardware isolation) and verifiable outputs.
What this means: This is bullish for POND because it proves the network's utility and technical capability. Increased usage and scale validate the protocol's value proposition for confidential AI and other sensitive computations, which could lead to greater network adoption and token utility over time.
(Source)
3. Payment Protocol Integration (7 November 2025)
Overview: Marlin's Confidential Virtual Machines (CVMs) were integrated to provide privacy-preserving "facilitators" for the x402 payment protocol. In this model, facilitators verify payments off-chain, but Marlin's TEEs ensure the transaction details remain confidential during this process.
The integration allows payment facilitators to operate with verifiable integrity, scaling horizontally across Marlin's TEE network to reduce latency and improve reliability.
What this means: This is bullish for POND because it expands the protocol's use cases beyond its core AI and DeFi focus into the payments sector. New applications like confidential agent wallets and verifiable computation marketplaces could drive additional demand for Marlin's network services.
(Source)
Conclusion
Marlin's trajectory is defined by scaling its core TEE infrastructure and strategically expanding its developer base and use cases, from confidential AI to private payments. Will the next major update focus on further decentralizing its node network or launching a mainnet for its Kalypso ZK-proof product?