- Cartesi upgrades Honeypot dApp with permissionless fraud-proof system.
- L2BEAT may grant Cartesi “Stage 2” status for smart contract governance.
- Next-gen ‘Dave’ fraud-proof system in development to boost rollup security.
June 20, 2025 – Cartesi, a modular blockchain protocol focused on application-specific rollups, has introduced an enhanced version of its Honeypot decentralized application (dApp). The upgrade incorporates Cartesi’s Permissionless Refereed Tournaments (PRT) fraud-proof system, representing a major step in rollup security and decentralization. This growth positions Cartesi among a select group of 26 projects maintaining Ethereum Layer 2 status under the latest L2BEAT standards.
The Honeypot dApp, originally launched on the Ethereum mainnet two years ago, acts as a hacking challenge based on the honeypot security concept. Its latest iteration integrates the PRT system, a fraud-proof solution designed to resist Sybil attacks without dependence on permissioned validators or specialized hardware. This mechanism facilitates permissionless validation through smart contracts, reducing reliance on multisignature interventions.
L2BEAT, an open-source analytics platform specializing in Layer 2 blockchain solutions, assesses projects based on their proof systems to verify rollup data accuracy for secure settlement on Ethereum. The platform is currently recategorizing Layer 2 projects according to their advancement toward fully functional, fraud-proof systems. Cartesi’s Honeypot upgrade is expected to achieve “Stage 2” status under this framework, a stage reserved for rollups entirely governed by smart contracts.
Industry Context and Future Development
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has recently stressed the necessity for all Layer 2 solutions to implement fraud-proof mechanisms. Cartesi’s updated Honeypot dApp addresses this requirement by offering a transparent, trust-minimized pathway for security validation. The system allows projects to commit their funds to test the integrity of fault proofs before third parties rely on them, promoting a gradual approach to trustless security.
Looking forward, Cartesi is building a next-generation fraud-proof system called ‘Dave’ to further improve the robustness of its roll-up technology. This ongoing development signals continued efforts to enhance security protocols in the Layer 2 ecosystem. The upgraded Honeypot dApp displays Cartesi’s progress in meeting industry benchmarks for decentralization and security within Ethereum Layer 2 solutions.
