Zug, Switzerland, January 29th, 2026, Chainwire
Status, one of Ethereum’s longest-running open-source projects, has re-entered the spotlight with USS Status, a satirical sci-fi cartoon that turns crypto’s chaotic past into comedy, along with the launch of a unified privacy super-app and gasless L2 network.
An Old Giant Awakens
Status, the open-source privacy super-app, has launched an overhauled unified app, a gasless L2 network, and a new identity personified in an irreverent and satirical web cartoon.
One of the oldest established projects in the Ethereum ecosystem, Status has weathered the industry’s volatility while continuing to quietly build an open-source platform that combines a secure crypto wallet, privacy messenger, and web browser within a single application.
Founded in 2017, Status has lived through ICO mania, regulatory whiplash, centralised exchange collapses, memecoin cycles, and repeated attempts to rebuild the internet with better primitives.
Now they’re back with a mission to make privacy accessible to everyone.
Crypto’s First Cartoon Series?
To celebrate the renewal of its app and the upcoming rollout of Status Network, the project is launching USS Status – an animated web series that follows a crew of meme misfits navigating a chaotic galaxy plagued by surveillance, centralisation, and bad governance.
The satirical sci-fi series pokes fun at the colourful history of the crypto space, featuring allusions to characters, tokens, and projects that will be immediately familiar to crypto-native viewers.
Episode 1 sees the return of an infamous crypto figure, although USS Status insists that any likelihood is strictly coincidental.
The show is available on X, YouTube, and TikTok, with the Status team hinting that more episodes are on their way soon: https://youtu.be/478Bjdcswo0
“Over the past decade, crypto has traded its sense of fun and freedom for market hype and profit-first narratives,” said Volodymy Hulchenko, Status App Lead.
“USS Status is our way of laughing at the chaos while reminding people that it’s still possible to build tools that defend privacy, free speech, and digital freedom – without losing the cypherpunk spirit that started it all.”
Those interested in following the USS Status journey can join the project’s X Community:
https://x.com/i/communities/1998042195463479359
The Platform Behind the Punchline
The USS Status fictional spaceship runs on the Ethereum blockchain (for now), and uses the same tech built into the Status privacy super-app that’s available today.
Status allows users to chat, transact, and browse privately – all in one place, and they’ve just launched a new unified app for mobile and desktop.
They’re not the only team building a super-app, but their focus is to provide unrivaled privacy using Logos’ peer-to-peer messaging technology (prev. Whisper) and decentralised smart contracts.
The app features anonymous profiles, a built-in multi-chain crypto wallet with swaps, end-to-end encrypted messaging, censorship-resistant Community spaces, and a privacy-preserving web browser.
The app is available at: status.app
As innovators in the privacy space since 2017, Status is also taking things one step further with the launch of Status Network, the world’s first natively gasless L2 blockchain.
Built on the zkEVM Linea stack, Status Network removes the need for gas with a reputation-based Karma system funded by native yield, unlocking gasless private accounts.
Will the combination of gasless zkEVM infrastructure and a privacy super-app create a new standard for privacy? We’ll have to wait and see until their mainnet launch in Q1.
In the meantime, pre-deposit vaults for staking on Status Network are now open: https://hub.status.network/
About Status Network
Status Network is the first Ethereum L2 with gas-free transactions at scale. Funded by native yield and app fees, it redistributes 100% of net revenues to its community, powering sustainable liquidity incentives, a public funding pool, and SNT buy-backs. Built on the Linea zkEVM stack, it enables frictionless onboarding for games, social apps, and DeFi while remaining fully aligned with Ethereum security and values.
Users can follow Status for updates: https://x.com/StatusL2
Contact
Public Relations
Laura Guzik
Status Network
laura@status.im
“USS Status” Launch: Crypto Veteran Returns With Satirical Cartoon, Privacy App, and Gasless L2
