This week’s Midweek with Max opened with a reminder that the HIPPO logo contest runs through Friday. Max’s latest platform updates: The Pop Points conversion is nearly ready, delayed slightly by a busy week of V2 Testnet deployments, database upgrades, and a larger-than-usual Bitcoin Testnet 3 reorg. V2 is now rolling out across Testnet as a non-breaking update, while the upcoming Fusaka mainnet upgrade will be breaking and will require node operators to upgrade once instructions are published.

Max continued with a brief update on ongoing work around ZK provability. The team is progressing toward a more modular proof system that can later support different layers of the protocol and unify verification across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Hemi. This work is foundational for several long-term features and ZK infrastructure continues to mature behind the scenes.

The core focus of the session was hemiBTC, framed at a high level rather than through implementation details. hemiBTC is now live as an OFT across Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, and BNB Chain. Advanced users can already bridge through contract interactions, while Stargate support will soon make crosschain movement accessible through standard UIs. An upcoming analytics dashboard will give the community a clearer picture of hemiBTC’s supply, backing, and crosschain usage.

Liqudity expansion is another major initiative underway. The team is working to deepen BTC-based liquidity across a variety of Bitcoin representations, enabling easier movement between assets like wBTC, tBTC, cbBTC, and Bitcoin LSTs. This supports crosschain routing through Hemi, generating protocol fees and broadening the visibility of hemiBTC across the wider DeFi ecosystem.

Max also previewed early details of MinerFi, an onboarding flow designed to simplify bringing Bitcoin onto Hemi. The idea is to allow mining pools or individual users to route mined BTC or wallet withdrawals directly into hemiBTC and optionally into yield strategies without requiring hands-on management. The integration is designed to make Bitcoin more productive for users who prefer an automated, streamlined experience.

All of this ultimately feeds into the long-term role of veHEMI. As hemiBTC activity increases, the fees generated through these flows will provide additional utility and rewards for veHEMI participants. Future protocol components will rely on veHEMI to secure different operational roles, and users will be able to opt into those roles as they go live. Max noted that more detail on these economic connections will arrive as pieces of the system decentralize.

The call closed with ecosystem items: updates to VBK tooling, ongoing preparation for the expanded bug bounty program, and the upcoming RPC rate-limit changes that will encourage heavier users to move to dedicated providers. Community events, merch updates, and upcoming contests rounded out the session. Next week will feature a deeper dive into hemiBTC, alongside expected publication of the long-awaited hBitVM whitepaper and a dedicated technical AMA to follow.