It seems like EigenLayer’s latest upgrade is making waves, but maybe not in the way everyone expected. The platform is now letting projects extend Ethereum’s security to other blockchains—starting with Base—and it’s apparently as simple as flipping a few switches. No major overhauls. No rewriting code for weeks. That kind of ease could change how teams think about multi-chain deployment.
Fundraising is still way too complicated
But here’s the thing—while infrastructure is getting simpler, fundraising feels like it’s stuck years behind. A lot of teams are still stitching their raises together manually: custom contracts, messy spreadsheets, endless chat threads. It’s slow. It’s risky. And honestly, it burns through runway that most startups don’t have.
Maybe there’s a better way. Think about how composability cleaned up DeFi infrastructure. The same approach could work for fundraising—using pre-audited modules, smart wallets, and cross-chain tools to build something that actually works on day one.
The real cost of building from scratch
When teams start from zero, everything takes longer. Internal data from several projects suggest that using standardized parts can cut setup time by around 85%. That’s weeks saved. And it’s not just about speed. Audits for custom code can run into the six figures. The more unique your setup, the more you pay—in time, money, and risk.
Regulation adds another layer. With MiCA now live in the EU, disclosure and compliance aren’t optional. Teams that build compliance into their stack from the start will have a clear advantage. Those who don’t? Well, let’s just say it won’t be pretty.
What good fundraising looks like
It starts with using standards everyone trusts—like OpenZeppelin contracts—so auditors and exchanges actually understand what you’re doing. Then, make it cross-chain without the friction. Let investors move capital seamlessly, maybe using USDC’s cross-chain protocol so they’re not dealing with wrapped assets and bridge headaches.
And the user experience has to be smooth. With account abstraction, you can sponsor gas, batch transactions, and offer social recovery. That means no more seed phrases or gas guesswork. Plus, real-time vesting updates and transparent supply data build trust from day one.
In the end, a fundraising round isn’t just paperwork—it’s often the first real interaction investors have with a project. If it feels clumsy or opaque, that sticks. But if it’s clean, cross-chain, and compliant? That builds confidence that lasts.
Maybe it’s time to stop reinventing the wheel. The tools are already here.
