Author: momo, ChainCatcher
Throughout the long history of humanity, Christianity, in its expansion, is rooted in the core cornerstone of cultural belief found in the Bible, while cleverly leveraging the power of military action (the sword) to continuously broaden its influence. This dual expansion strategy of "Bible and Sword," combining spiritual belief with military conquest, not only greatly accelerated the widespread dissemination of Christianity around the world but also laid a decisive foundation for the formation of early European territorial maps.
The symbiotic expansion model of "Bible and Sword" has also become an important reference and strategy for rapid expansion in the business field, especially during the golden period of rapid market growth. This strategy was particularly common in the early development stage of the internet industry, exemplified by Meituan's famous "Mobile Target Strategy": closely following market trends (seen as the "Bible") while flexibly adjusting its own strategies (the "Sword") to precisely match market demands. It was this flexibility that helped Meituan quickly rise to become a giant in the O2O field, successfully dominating the takeaway market and ultimately standing out in the fierce "Battle of the Hundred Groups."
Today, in the cryptocurrency market, Metis has proposed a new development strategy of "Bible and Sword," determined to deeply integrate the blockchain values carried by Ethereum (metaphorically its "Bible") with high-performance technology (metaphorically its "Sword"), achieving a perfect fusion of the faith power of the "Bible" and the practical effectiveness of the "Sword," thereby opening a new development path that adheres to the spirit of blockchain while also possessing high efficiency.
Specifically, while Metis adheres to the advantages of Ethereum's decentralized spirit, it actively synchronizes with market trends, transforming its technological advantages into a powerful driving force for ecological expansion.
On February 21, the detailed ReGenesis plan unveiled by Natalia Ameline of the Metis Foundation in an open letter to the community is a concrete embodiment of this strategy. In the ReGenesis plan, Metis has firmly shifted its strategic focus to the AI field, aiming to build a technology oasis tailored specifically for AI while carefully incubating cutting-edge projects that are leading the wave of industry innovation.
By integrating the dual advantages of AI and Web3, Metis aims to construct a comprehensive and collaborative AI+Web3 ecosystem. This innovative flywheel not only effectively addresses the bottlenecks and challenges currently faced by Ethereum but also profoundly reshapes the ecological landscape of Ethereum from an unprecedented perspective and approach.
Ethereum in Development Dilemma
Known as the "King of Public Chains," Ethereum once led the rise of decentralized application (DApp) platforms with its pioneering decentralized philosophy and smart contract technology, giving birth to new waves such as DeFi and NFTs during the 2020 crypto bull market. It is regarded as the "team that understands cryptocurrency the most," laying a solid foundation for the development of the blockchain industry. For a long time, Ethereum was synonymous with innovation, a gold mine in the eyes of countless developers and users.
However, as market cycles evolved, Ethereum's status as the Layer 1 king is being tested, with its limitations in scalability, user experience, and application ecology gradually becoming apparent. As more high-performance public chains like Solana, BSC, and Base emerge in the crypto market, a significant number of its original users and developers have shifted to these more high-performance and user-friendly public chains, leading to a continuous erosion of Ethereum's market share and a weakening of its "wealth effect."
Especially in this round of the crypto market cycle, emerging narrative trends such as AI, RWA, and Meme coins have not chosen Ethereum as the dominant platform but have instead emerged more prominently on ecosystems like Solana and Base. This has led to Ethereum being gradually marginalized in new narratives, with users' opportunities for wealth becoming increasingly limited, and its dominant position facing unprecedented challenges.
According to developer data, the number of developers on the Ethereum network has decreased by 36% in the past two years, dropping from over 10,000 at the peak in 2022 to around 6,000 now.
In terms of market performance, this "eternal second" Ethereum appears out of place in this bull market. Compared to the strong performances of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Solana (SOL), Ethereum (ETH) has not performed well in this cycle, with its price dropping from around $4,000 to about $1,500.
Additionally, the frequent selling of tokens by the Ethereum Foundation has sparked strong dissatisfaction within the community, and market confidence in Ethereum seems to be wavering. Coupled with the hidden costs of the Layer 2 diversion war and the siphoning effect of Solana's Meme economy, Ethereum's future path appears increasingly unclear.
From a market perspective, Ethereum's dilemma lies in the severe disconnection between its "technology" and "market." Although Ethereum has significant technological advantages, these advantages have not translated into ecological dominance, and its focus on technical narratives and idealistic governance structures has sacrificed performance, which is at odds with current market expectations.
Crypto investment firm Paradigm has also pointed out that Ethereum's current annual upgrade plan limits its innovation capacity and ability to effectively respond to market trends.
Moreover, as market cycles change, user demands have shifted from "narrative" to "practicality." Users are more concerned with how to achieve real benefits and a stronger sense of participation through crypto technology. However, many applications on Ethereum still remain at the conceptual stage, lacking practical functions that can truly meet user needs. This disconnection between technology and market has caused Ethereum to gradually lose its competitive edge.
Ethereum founder Vitalik recently stated in an interview that Ethereum needs new stories and new users, believing that the time is no longer for infrastructure but for applications, and that it will increasingly support directions like AI+Crypto and RWA.
Thus, the challenges currently facing Ethereum are multifaceted, including lagging technological updates, intense market competition, user attrition, and declining ecological dominance. These issues cannot be resolved overnight and require deep reflection and long-term efforts from the Ethereum team. Therefore, in the short term, it is not easy for Ethereum to turn its large ship around.
In addition to Ethereum, emerging public chains like Solana, Base, and BSC, while quickly attracting a large number of users and developers due to their high performance, user-friendly experiences, or narrative promotion by their foundations, generally face the dilemma of being overly centralized.
Metis's "Bible and Sword" Fusion Strategy: A Combination of Heritage and Innovation
As a network rooted in the Ethereum ecosystem, Metis is acutely aware of the numerous challenges it currently faces and has proposed a new development strategy of "Bible and Sword."
This strategy, while adhering to the decentralized philosophy of Ethereum (the Bible) and other advantages, continuously refines and innovates its products and technologies (the sword), ensuring that it keeps pace with the rapid development trends of the market and can transform its technological advantages into a powerful driving force for ecological development, paving a unique path for crypto development.
In Metis's view, although Ethereum currently faces many tests, the core decentralized philosophy and smart contract technology it advocates have undoubtedly disrupted traditional business models and are key forces driving the innovation and evolution of the blockchain ecosystem. This technology not only empowers anyone to build self-operating decentralized applications but also creates a new business model where services are no longer controlled by a single centralized company but are maintained and contributed to by a global community of users.
While some high-performance public chains have been criticized for their centralization, they are more practical and better aligned with user experience.
Therefore, Metis has proposed the "Bible and Sword" fusion strategy, with the core idea being that only by combining the time-tested decentralized philosophy of Ethereum (the Bible) with the advantages of high-performance public chains (the Sword) can success be achieved.
This strategy is not only Metis's tribute and inheritance of Ethereum's decentralized spirit but also a keen insight and proactive response to changes in market demand.
Metis is not content with simply following in Ethereum's footsteps but is committed to innovating boldly on the foundation of inheritance, striving to deeply integrate advanced technological capabilities into ecological construction, and transforming technological advantages into strong momentum for ecological development, thus creating a new path that adheres to the core spirit of blockchain while also considering efficient development.
Of course, in adhering to the decentralized spirit of Ethereum, Metis has never merely talked the talk but has continuously practiced this philosophy through concrete actions.
As a leader in Ethereum Layer 2 innovation, Metis has launched the revolutionary Metis SDK (Software Development Kit).
The Metis SDK is not an ordinary development toolkit; it represents a fundamental transformation in blockchain infrastructure construction. This innovative framework enables developers to build customized execution layers based on the Metis technology stack, marking a strategic upgrade from a single Layer 2 solution to an open multi-chain platform ecosystem.
The Metis SDK is also the core of its dual-chain strategy. The Metis SDK innovatively achieves deep integration of the dual-chain strategy, perfectly merging two complementary networks: on one hand, the Andromeda Layer 2 main chain, which has been market-tested and is known for its security and decentralization; on the other hand, Hyperion, a high-performance infrastructure designed specifically for AI applications. Through the intelligent connection of the Metis SDK and the economic incentives of the METIS token, this dual-chain architecture successfully breaks through the bottlenecks of traditional Layer 2 solutions in terms of performance and scalability.
The Hyperion network, as its first successful practice, also exemplifies its transformative potential. Developers can now independently build customized execution layers based on the Metis SDK technology framework, completely breaking the limitations of traditional blockchain development.
Specifically, based on the Metis SDK, developers can develop powerful applications on Hyperion, primarily reflected in:
First is its innovative dynamic Opcode optimization technology. This technology effectively reduces computational overhead by intelligently adjusting the underlying instruction set, significantly optimizing transaction costs.
In terms of transaction processing capabilities, the Metis SDK employs a revolutionary parallel and speculative execution mechanism, addressing the long-standing performance bottleneck issues that have troubled developers.
Most forward-looking is its deeply integrated AI infrastructure, allowing developers to directly deploy machine learning models in smart contracts, achieving advanced functions such as on-chain AI inference.
Additionally, utilizing the modular infrastructure of the Metis SDK, Hyperion has eliminated single points of failure, greatly enhancing network security, fairness, and censorship resistance.
Through this innovative SDK, the METIS token has also achieved a qualitative leap, gaining true programmability, allowing its application scenarios to no longer be limited to a single blockchain network.
This evolution has brought about two revolutionary transformations. First, Metis has completed the upgrade from a single Layer 2 to a multi-chain ecosystem. Developers can create dedicated execution environment clusters based on the Metis technology stack, building a truly meaningful "execution layer network family."
Second, the Metis SDK has established a scalable decentralized infrastructure system for Metis, significantly upgrading the experience for users and developers:
A substantial reduction in transaction costs, making high-frequency on-chain interactions economically viable
Near-instant transaction confirmation speeds, providing a smooth experience comparable to centralized services
Developers can create customized Layer 2, Layer 3, or other blockchain networks to meet specific use case needs.
The launch of this innovative architecture signifies a key step forward for blockchain technology towards mainstream applications. As more developers join this ecosystem, the Metis SDK is expected to become the standard development framework for the next generation of decentralized applications.
Strongly Betting on the New Trend of AI, Focusing on AI Infrastructure
In her open letter to the community, Natalia also unveiled the strategic focus of the ReGenesis product layer: to concentrate efforts in the AI field. If Ethereum's decentralized philosophy is the "Bible" guiding Metis's growth, then fully embracing the new trend of AI is one of the "Swords" that Metis wields to grasp the pulse of the times and explore the future.
Since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022, the AI field has been surging, with the emergence of innovative applications like DeepSeek pushing this wave to new heights. AI and crypto technology represent one that breaks through our imagination of productivity limits and another that reshapes our understanding of economic models; their integration is like a match made in heaven, showcasing infinite imaginative space. The narratives of crypto and AI continue to emerge, with decentralized computing power, decentralized data, decentralized AI networks, and explosive growth of AI Agent Memes, among many other products.
In the released 2025 outlook on trends in the crypto industry, authoritative institutions such as a16z, VanEck, Bitwise, Hashed, Blockworks, Messari, and Framework unanimously express optimism about the future development of the crypto and AI markets. Data shows that cryptocurrency AI is expected to experience explosive growth by 2025, with a projected total market value reaching $150 billion and a growth rate of up to 100% (the total market value of crypto AI assets was $70 billion as of December 2024, according to ChainCatcher).
Metis has long recognized the importance of laying out AI, hoping to leverage Web3 technology and spirit to address the challenges currently faced by AI and promote innovation and development in this field.
Metis observes that the current major trend in the industry is to integrate or incorporate AI into ecosystems to gain short-term market attention. However, since AI did not originate from Web3 and requires a more rigorous technological foundation (such as higher performance and more secure data), most AI applications struggle to adapt and cannot be widely used on-chain.
It is precisely because of AI's stringent requirements for underlying technology that there remains a gap in the open networks specifically dedicated to AI scenarios in the current crypto market. Although many Layer 1 and Layer 2 projects have expressed their openness to AI, very few projects have truly stood out, with most being mere hype.
Metis aims to establish a sustainable AI ecosystem, focusing on providing the scalable infrastructure that AI projects genuinely need. In simple terms, Metis's goal is to create a robust infrastructure for AI developers to support the deployment of real applications, not just to remain at the level of hype.
Metis has repeatedly emphasized that it is not blindly chasing AI trends but has concrete execution and operational strategies.
Currently, Metis's development of AI primarily follows two routes: one is to provide the infrastructure needed by AI developers: offering a high-throughput, low-latency high-performance infrastructure to support the deployment of native AI applications and scale AI on-chain; the second is to leverage Web3 technology to address issues in the AI world, such as insufficient training data and privacy concerns.
In January of this year, Metis announced the incubation of the decentralized AI project LazAI, which directly addresses pain points in the AI industry, aiming to reshape the production relationships of the AI era, allowing the benefits of technological development to reach every participant.
Currently, there is a consensus that AI is reshaping the world, but behind the prosperity lies an increasingly severe structural crisis.
The current AI ecosystem is monopolized by a few tech giants, who control the entire technology stack from data collection and model training to computing resources.
This monopolistic pattern leads to four systemic flaws: training data becomes proprietary assets of tech companies, independent developers are excluded from the innovation ecosystem; centralized data black holes continuously consume user privacy; exorbitant computing power demands turn AI research and development into an exclusive game for capital giants; and AI decision-making in critical areas resembles a black box, lacking necessary transparency and auditability.
LazAI aims to repair this system by introducing innovative new asset issuance standards DAT (Data Anchored Tokens) tailored to AI characteristics and a native social architecture organization iDAO (individual-centered or intelligent DAO) for the AI economy, ensuring that AI systems are accountable to contributors, making data traceable, verifiable, and rights-assignable. At the same time, it aims to achieve fair distribution of AI value and build an intelligent, transparent, and democratically governed environment for development and innovation.
LazAI is not an application or a model company but a new paradigm protocol designed to define how data, behavior, models, and interactions become priced assets in the AI-native economy. It has already launched the AI Agent development framework Alith.
In terms of ecological development, Metis is committed to creating a tailored technological paradise for AI developers, building a sustainable and prosperous home for them, and will support innovative projects through various forms such as incubation and resource support.
Metis's Ambition: "Saving" Ethereum?
As a Layer 2 network rooted in the Ethereum ecosystem, Metis not only deeply embodies the spirit of Ethereum's decentralization but has also pioneered a decentralized ordering mechanism that enhances the network's security and transparency, leading Layer 2 networks towards decentralization. Now, with the surge of AI technology, Metis has keenly seized the opportunity, being the first to propose a bet on the AI field, dedicated to creating an innovative land for AI developers.
Currently, the development path of AI in the crypto market presents two major trends: one is "AI For Crypto," leveraging AI to enhance efficiency and user experience; the other is "Crypto For AI," using crypto technology to solve the uneven distribution of resources such as computing power, data, and models in the AI field. Industry insiders unanimously believe that the potential of the "Crypto for AI" market far exceeds that of "AI for Crypto."
The "AI infrastructure built and the pain points addressed in the AI industry" proposed by Metis is a vivid practice of "Crypto For AI." The upcoming launch of the Hyperion testnet provides a powerful technical support platform for AI developers, and its market prospects are highly anticipated.
Unlike traditional Layer 2 solutions that are limited to incremental optimizations of existing architectures, Metis's Hyperion directly addresses the fundamental limitations of blockchain performance, clearing the technical barriers to large-scale application deployment through groundbreaking technological innovations.
The MetisVM technology integrated into Hyperion significantly enhances execution efficiency while maintaining decentralized characteristics, laying the foundation for the development of decentralized AI applications.
In terms of performance optimization, MetisVM employs advanced opcode processing mechanisms and custom instruction extensions, resulting in a qualitative improvement in transaction processing speed; its innovative speculative execution technology, through intelligent prediction algorithms, can pre-process potential contract operations, combined with parallel execution mechanisms, greatly increasing network throughput.
Notably, MetisVM introduces an intelligent state-aware caching system. This system can automatically identify and prioritize the storage of frequently accessed smart contract state variables, effectively reducing data retrieval delays and improving overall operational efficiency.
In terms of AI integration, MetisVM also demonstrates unique advantages: it integrates an optimized AI inference engine; supports hardware-accelerated computing; and employs zero-knowledge proof technology to ensure the security and privacy of model operations.
These technological innovations not only address the performance bottlenecks of traditional blockchains but also open up new possibilities for decentralized AI applications.
Overall, Metis is closely following market trends and resolutely diving into the AI field, aiming to build an infrastructure that drives the next wave of innovation, laying a solid foundation for the prosperous development of AI.
Every strategic deployment by Metis is a precise practice and interpretation of the "Bible and Sword" wisdom strategy, profoundly showcasing the deep integration of its technology and philosophy. While adhering to the spirit of Ethereum (the Bible), Metis, with its technological innovation and keen market insight (the Sword), accurately captures the opportunities of the new wave of AI, demonstrating its foresight and execution capability.
As Napoleon once said, "There are two forces in the world: ideas and swords. In the short term, swords can open up territory, but in the long run, swords always fall to ideas. Only when the two are perfectly combined can there be a true winner." Napoleon became a symbol of the French spirit precisely because he skillfully combined the sword with ideas: his ideas supported his sword, and his sword paved the way for his ideas.
Today, Metis is far more than a simple Layer 2 solution; it is a model of the deep integration of AI and crypto technology.
Through the dual drive of technological iteration and AI strategy, Metis not only effectively addresses Ethereum's scalability challenges but also provides users with a more efficient and intelligent blockchain application experience, making it a strong candidate to "save" Ethereum.
Metis's ambitions may extend far beyond "remodeling" Ethereum; it hopes to lead the entire Web3 industry towards a future where decentralization and high efficiency coexist through continuous technological innovation and ecological construction.
免责声明：本文章仅代表作者个人观点，不代表本平台的立场和观点。本文章仅供信息分享，不构成对任何人的任何投资建议。用户与作者之间的任何争议，与本平台无关。如网页中刊载的文章或图片涉及侵权，请提供相关的权利证明和身份证明发送邮件到support@aicoin.com，本平台相关工作人员将会进行核查。
