In 2025, the Dusk ecosystem will reach a critical node for node upgrades, and the deployment of DuskEVM has cleared technical barriers. This upgrade is far more than routine maintenance; it is actually a strategic crossroads: how to draw on the mature Ethereum ecosystem while shaping a unique positioning of its own? This question will directly impact the future success or failure of DuskEVM.

From a technical perspective, the selling point of DuskEVM is not simply mimicking Ethereum's compatibility solutions. It is a "compliant version of the Ethereum framework." Specifically, DuskEVM is fully compatible with Ethereum smart contract code — meaning DeFi applications, development teams, and user ecosystems on Ethereum can be directly migrated with almost zero code changes. This advantage is especially evident during the cold start phase.

Imagine: lending protocols and derivative trading platforms migrating from Ethereum to Dusk, not only maintaining their original functions but also seamlessly integrating compliant asset pools. This opens up a mode of "on-chain financing + offline asset collateralization," which even Ethereum itself cannot do. Why can't Ethereum do it? Because its underlying architecture was never designed to be compatible with traditional financial compliance frameworks from the start.

DuskEVM has implemented an interesting design at the smart contract layer — an embedded "regulatory trigger mechanism." When a contract transaction involves illegal funds or breaches compliance boundaries, regulators can pause contract execution through a dedicated channel. This seemingly simple measure effectively alleviates the biggest concerns traditional financial institutions have about going on-chain. Banks and asset management institutions that were previously hesitant now have the confidence to participate.

But the other side of the coin is also very real: strong compatibility can easily lead to homogenization traps. If DuskEVM is only positioned as "Ethereum's compliant version," the long-term ecosystem development space may be limited. The real breakthrough lies in how to develop application scenarios and value propositions that can only be provided by the Dusk ecosystem, while maintaining compatibility.

The market is not short of compatibility solutions; what is lacking is a differentiated ecosystem story. DuskEVM needs to demonstrate itself not just as a "backup option," but as an independent ecosystem force through practical application deployment and deep integration with compliant finance.