Latest Merlin Chain (MERL) News Update

Deep Dive

1. @MerlinLayer2: Mainnet upgrade targets Bitcoin scalability bullish

"This upgrade moves Merlin from Fork 9 to Fork 12... significantly higher TPS"
– @MerlinLayer2 (385K followers · 9.2K likes · 25 June 2025)
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What this means: Bullish for MERL as the June 2025 technical overhaul improved transaction throughput and node stability, critical for Bitcoin DeFi adoption.

2. @MerlinLayer2: M-BTC goes multichain via Sui bullish

"Over 20% of Sui’s TVL already consists of BTC assets... bridge the gap between Bitcoin and high-performance DeFi"
– @MerlinLayer2 (385K followers · 544 media posts · 21 August 2025)
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What this means: Bullish as cross-chain liquidity expansion (live since August) positions MERL as a bridge between Bitcoin and emerging DeFi ecosystems.

3. @MerlinLayer2: Binance Alpha listing sparks 17% rally mixed

"MERL’s price rose to $0.1346... with possible targets of $0.20" – CoinJournal
– Report (28 May 2025 · 1.43M monthly visitors)
What this means: Mixed – While the May 2025 Binance perpetual listing boosted visibility, MERL remains 91% below its April 2024 ATH ($1.55), highlighting volatility risks.

Conclusion

The consensus on MERL is bullish given its Bitcoin L2 technical edge and cross-chain partnerships, tempered by exchange-driven volatility. Watch the post-upgrade TVL trend after November 7’s network improvements – previous upgrades correlated with 304% TVL growth (May–July 2025).

Deep Dive

1. Bithumb MERL Suspension (7 November 2025)

Overview:
Bithumb, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, paused MERL deposits and withdrawals starting 12:35 p.m. UTC on November 7 to facilitate a network upgrade. The upgrade focuses on improved transaction speeds, security, and scalability, with no estimated completion time.

What this means:
The suspension is neutral for MERL in the short term but signals long-term technical improvements. Enhanced infrastructure could boost adoption by addressing Bitcoin’s scalability limitations. However, reduced liquidity during the freeze may temporarily amplify price volatility. (CoinMarketCap)

2. Bybit Supports Network Upgrade (7 November 2025)

Overview:
Bybit confirmed support for Merlin Chain’s network upgrade, which leverages Zero-Knowledge (ZK) rollups to anchor transactions to Bitcoin’s base layer. The upgrade aims to enhance MERL’s utility in governance and transaction throughput for Bitcoin-native protocols.

What this means:
Bybit’s endorsement is bullish, reflecting growing institutional confidence in Bitcoin Layer-2 solutions. Previous upgrades drove Merlin’s TVL growth, suggesting this could further attract developers and users. However, broader market sentiment remains cautious amid a -21.41% MERL price drop over 24 hours. (CoinMarketCap)

Conclusion

Merlin Chain’s recent developments highlight its focus on technical robustness and exchange partnerships, positioning it as a key player in Bitcoin Layer-2 innovation. Will upgraded infrastructure translate to sustained adoption amid volatile market conditions?

Deep Dive

1. Mainnet Upgrade (7 November 2025)

Overview:
The November 7 upgrade implemented ZK-Rollups to improve transaction throughput and security by anchoring proofs to Bitcoin’s base layer. Exchanges like Bybit and Bithumb supported the upgrade, pausing deposits/withdrawals temporarily.

What this means:
This is bullish for MERL as it strengthens Merlin’s technical foundation, potentially attracting more Bitcoin-native protocols and developers. However, post-upgrade stability risks could temporarily pressure prices if bugs emerge.

2. Chain Abstraction Expansion (Ongoing)

Overview:
Merlin 2.0’s chain abstraction allows BTC to interact natively with EVM chains (e.g., Arbitrum, Sui) for DeFi, memecoins, and IDOs without leaving the Bitcoin ecosystem. Recent M-BTC integration with Sui (August 2025) unlocked yield opportunities.

What this means:
This is bullish for adoption, as it taps into Bitcoin’s $2.2T liquidity. However, reliance on cross-chain bridges introduces smart contract risks that could deter cautious users.

3. Wizard AI Development (2025–2026)

Overview:
Wizard AI, launched in March 2025, is being upgraded to automate trading, optimize gas fees, and detect market signals. Future versions aim to integrate with Merlin’s Layer 3 solutions.

What this means:
This is neutral for MERL—AI could streamline user experience and attract retail traders, but over-reliance on unproven AI tools might raise security concerns if not audited rigorously.

Conclusion

Merlin Chain is prioritizing scalability (ZK-Rollups), Bitcoin-centric DeFi (chain abstraction), and AI-driven usability. The November upgrade lays groundwork for higher transaction capacity, while cross-chain integrations aim to position BTC as a productive asset. How will Merlin balance innovation with security as its ecosystem grows?

Deep Dive

1. Network Upgrade (7 Nov 2025)

Overview: This upgrade integrates ZK-rollups to process transactions off-chain while anchoring proofs to Bitcoin, improving scalability without compromising security.

The update focuses on reducing finality times during congestion and optimizing gas fees for Bitcoin-native protocols like BRC-20. Bybit and Bithumb temporarily paused deposits/withdrawals to implement these changes, signaling institutional confidence.

What this means: This is bullish for MERL because faster, cheaper transactions could attract more DeFi projects and users to Merlin’s ecosystem, boosting network utility. (Source)

2. Mainnet Fork 12 (26 Jun 2025)

Overview: The fork introduced a modular sequencer architecture tailored for zkEVM, replacing legacy systems to handle 50–60x more transactions per second.

Key updates included migrating to CDK-Erigon RPC (improving node stability) and adding a rollbackBatches feature for protocol flexibility. ZK proof generation was optimized, reducing latency by ~40%.

What this means: This is neutral for MERL short-term, as infrastructure upgrades often take time to translate into user growth, but long-term scalability strengthens Bitcoin L2 competitiveness. (Source)

3. PoS Transition (Upcoming)

Overview: Merlin plans to shift to Proof-of-Stake, allowing MERL holders to stake tokens and participate in network validation, reducing reliance on centralized collators.

The upgrade includes a 7-day withdrawal period for staked MERL and incentives for running validator nodes on consumer hardware.

What this means: This is bullish for MERL because staking rewards could increase token demand, while decentralization aligns with Bitcoin’s ethos, appealing to security-focused users. (Source)

Conclusion

Merlin Chain’s codebase upgrades emphasize scalability, security, and decentralization, positioning it as a leading Bitcoin L2. Will these technical strides accelerate adoption as BTCFi gains momentum?