Cryptocurrency staking protocol Symbiotic has successfully closed a $29 million Series A funding round led by Web3-focused investment firms such as Pantera Capital and Coinbase Ventures. The purpose of this funding is to support the launch of a new economic coordination layer aimed at enhancing blockchain security. More than 100 angel investors, along with industry giants like Aave, Polygon, and StarkWare, participated in this funding round. The funding round also signifies the debut of Symbiotic’s Universal Staking Framework, designed to act as an economic coordination layer to reinforce blockchain security through staking. The framework allows for the utilization of various cryptocurrencies to secure networks, including both monolithic and modular blockchains. According to Symbiotic, the new staking layer empowers protocols to evolve their security models seamlessly without rebuilding infrastructure. The company’s network of decentralized validators provides programmable security without requiring modifications to existing infrastructure, attracting 14 networks such as Hyperlane, Spark, and Avail, with 20 more anticipated to follow suit. The staking layer’s flexibility enables any protocol, including L1s, bridges, oracles, and emerging verticals like artificial intelligence, to configure their validator sets, incentive mechanisms, and slashing conditions without the need for a complete overhaul of core infrastructure. The launch of this new staking layer is seen as a significant advancement in blockchain infrastructure by industry experts like Paul Veradittakit, managing partner at Pantera Capital. In other news, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson emphasized the importance of collaborative economics in the crypto industry during his speech at Paris Blockchain Week 2025, highlighting the need to counter the increasing competition from traditional tech firms entering the blockchain space. Hoskinson discussed the limitations of the current “circular economy” in cryptocurrencies and stressed the necessity of developing tokenomics and market structures that promote cooperation rather than adversarial relationships for the industry to thrive in a global ecosystem.