Espresso (ESP) Expands Blockchain Coordination with HotShot BFT Consensus

• Espresso (ESP) is a shared sequencing and finality layer for Ethereum rollups, designed to reduce fragmented liquidity and enable seamless cross-chain interoperability.
• The ESP token is used for staking, governance, and protocol fees, with a supply model designed to foster long-term network adoption and decentralization.
• KuCoin launched spot trading for Espresso (ESP/USDT) on February 12, 2026, marking a significant addition to available cryptocurrency markets.

Espresso (ESP) has emerged as a blockchain infrastructure layer aimed at addressing fragmented liquidity and interoperability issues across Ethereum rollups. By utilizing HotShot BFT consensus, it provides fast finality and secure coordination across chains without relying on centralized bridges.

The project supports cross-rollup atomic transactions, allowing seamless interactions on chains like Celo and ApeChain. This functionality is particularly valuable in a growing ecosystem of decentralized applications that demand interoperability and fast confirmation times.

The ESP token is central to the network's operations. It facilitates staking, protocol fees, and governance, while its token allocation prioritizes community incentives and long-term development. A key risk for investors is the evolving nature of the project, as well as market volatility and protocol risks.

What is Espresso (ESP)?

Espresso (ESP) is designed to act as an infrastructure layer across multiple chains, solving the problem of isolated rollups. It uses HotShot BFT consensus to enable fast finality and secure sequencing.

The network allows for shared sequencing, meaning rollups do not need to maintain individual sequencers. This design reduces overhead and fosters interoperability without relying on centralized bridges. As a result, Espresso is positioning itself as a modular layer for decentralized networks.

The native ESP token is used for staking and governance, aligning incentives across network participants. Its total supply is fixed at 3.59 billion, with over 520 million currently in circulation.

Why is Espresso (ESP) a key player in blockchain coordination?

Espresso has the potential to reshape how blockchain networks interact. By enabling cross-rollup interoperability, it addresses a core issue in the blockchain ecosystem: the need for seamless coordination without sacrificing decentralization.

The project is backed by top-tier venture capital firms, including a16z and Sequoia, and launched its mainnet in 2024. This backing, combined with real-world integrations, positions Espresso as a key player in the future of modular blockchain infrastructure.

One of the standout features of Espresso is its use of HotShot BFT consensus. This allows for fast finality and secure block confirmation, making it suitable for high-throughput environments.

What are the implications for investors in the Espresso (ESP) ecosystem?

For investors, Espresso offers exposure to a growing infrastructure layer that aims to solve foundational problems in the blockchain space. The ESP token's use cases in staking, governance, and fees are central to the network's growth.

However, investors should be cautious about the risks involved. The project is still in its early stages of adoption, and market volatility could impact token value. Additionally, protocol risks are inherent in any emerging blockchain infrastructure.

The recent launch of ESP/USDT trading on KuCoin on February 12, 2026, marks an important step for the token's liquidity and exposure. This could attract new investors and increase the token's utility in broader trading markets.

The Espresso team is composed of Stanford cryptography researchers with deep expertise in zero-knowledge proofs and sequencing technology. This technical background may give the project an edge in scalability and security compared to competitors.