LONDON, Feb 17, 2026, 10:31 (GMT)
- A MegaETH executive is calling on blockchain teams to focus on developing user-facing apps instead of limiting efforts to infrastructure.
- With the Transak integration, users can now buy ether straight on MegaETH using cards or bank transfers.
- MegaLabs has set out its plans for MEGA buybacks tied to USDM, along with usage targets, as it gears up for the token launch.
MegaETH’s chief strategy officer Namik Muduroglu says the Ethereum layer-2 project is chasing a “real-time” experience, touting 10-millisecond “lock times” and pointing to recent stress tests that pushed throughput to 55,000 transactions per second—something enabled by centralising block production for sheer speed. “Staying removed from the application layer is a losing strategy for blockchain teams,” Muduroglu said. “The era of infrastructure for the sake of infrastructure is over.” 1
This shift is key, with much of Ethereum’s main action now shifting over to layer 2 networks—these are secondary chains designed for quicker transactions, but ultimately tie everything back to Ethereum, which remains the core ledger. Even with those speedier rails, though, the broader issue persists: attracting regular users, actually funding wallets, then keeping them active in apps hasn’t been solved.
Late on Feb. 16, a market note flagged MegaETH’s token buyback strategy and a new payments partnership—moves aimed at bridging the gap between bank cards and on-chain apps. The core pitch isn’t complicated: make transactions smoother, speed up confirmation. With fresh networks hunting for consistent users, not just chart positions, that’s the focus. 2
Transak said in a Feb. 12 blog post it’s now fully integrated with MegaETH, enabling users to pick up ether directly on the network using credit cards, debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, SEPA or local bank transfers. The rollout, already live for more than 10 million users, removes the extra step of bridging assets between chains or having to set up a centralized exchange account, according to the company. “This integration is about removing friction at the exact moment users want to get started,” said Jack Bushell, Transak’s director of sales. 3
A fiat “on-ramp” just refers to the payments infrastructure that lets users convert government money into crypto. That initial jump is where many users give up—particularly if they’re told to purchase tokens on one site, then shift them somewhere else.
MegaLabs, the company behind MegaETH, has mapped out a buyback approach connected to USDM—a stablecoin aiming for price stability. According to a MegaLabs post, revenue generated by USDM will go toward buying and holding MEGA, a token in the works that’s also tied to what it calls “Proximity Markets,” or auctions for positioning close to the network’s sequencer, which manages transaction order. MEGA isn’t launching until certain usage milestones hit, including $500 million in USDM circulation and application targets, the firm said. 4
MegaETH is stepping into an already packed Ethereum scaling arena, where Arbitrum and Optimism hold the lead, and Base—backed by Coinbase—has quickly emerged as a big entry point for certain apps. The battle has shifted beyond throughput metrics; now, it’s all about pulling in developers, users, and liquidity.
Still, quick confirmations and token rewards aren’t enough to lock in lasting demand. Fiat on-ramps hinge on partnerships with payment processors and must navigate compliance hurdles like know-your-customer checks. Buyback schemes, meanwhile, are tied to the expansion of stablecoins and could attract regulatory attention. MegaETH’s emphasis on performance also comes with a tilt toward centralisation—an approach that doesn’t sit well with every crypto user.
Now comes a fresh hurdle: Can developers roll out apps that actually resemble mainstream internet services? And do users stick around for more after their first transaction? MegaETH has announced its “Frontier” mainnet is live for builders. The next step, an “OMEGA” phase, is supposed to bring in a wider public audience.
