News linked to both this project and an event.
According to Decrypt, Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence team disclosed that attackers had injected malicious code into Mistral AI packages distributed via the PyPI platform. This malicious code automatically executes when developers use the packages on Linux systems, downloading and running a malicious file named <code>transformers.pyz</code> in the background—the filename deliberately mimics the widely used Hugging Face Transformers library to evade detection. Microsoft noted that the malware primarily steals developers’ login credentials and access tokens. It avoids execution on Russian-language systems and includes logic that can randomly delete files on devices located in Israel or Iran. This attack is linked to the “Shai-Hulud” supply-chain campaign launched in September. In response, Mistral stated that its investigation found the attack originated from compromised developer devices, and its corporate infrastructure was not breached.
Odaily, the State Duma Committee on State Building and Legislation has recommended the first reading of a government bill imposing criminal liability for the illegal mining of cryptocurrencies. The bill adds a new Article 171.6 to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, holding individuals accountable for mining activities not included in the state register, as well as for providing mining infrastructure operation services without a license.If the illegal income or damages exceed 3.5 million rubles, the penalty could be a fine of up to 1.5 million rubles or up to two years of compulsory labor. If committed by an organized group or if the income exceeds 13 million rubles, the maximum fine rises to 2.5 million rubles, with a potential prison term of up to five years. In all violation cases, the mined cryptocurrencies will be confiscated. Currently, approximately 50,000 entities are engaged in mining in Russia, but only 1,489 are registered in the state register.
Bitget Wallet has launched a Labor Day QR code payment campaign, running from April 28 to May 7, further driving the adoption of stablecoin payments in everyday consumption and travel scenarios across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. During the campaign, users who complete offline QR code payments using USDT or USDC will receive RLUSD cashback for each transaction. From May 1 to May 7, Bitget Wallet will randomly select one paying user per day to receive an additional 1,000 RLUSD cashback. To lower the barrier to first-time usage, Bitget Wallet will also airdrop XRP to eligible participants—serving as the account reserve required to activate RLUSD withdrawals. RLUSD is a compliant U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Ripple and regulated by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). This campaign marks Bitget Wallet’s first real-world consumer application following its integration of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) mainnet and onboarding of the RLUSD payment ecosystem at the end of March—and represents a key milestone in advancing Bitget Wallet’s Everyday Finance strategy.
Odaily News Coin Center released a report stating that cryptocurrency software code constitutes "functional speech" and should be protected under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The organization argues that writing and publishing code is akin to writing a book or publishing a recipe; developers are "expressers and inventors," not custodians of assets or intermediaries.The report points out that the mere act of publishing and maintaining software should be strictly protected. However, when developers directly control user assets, execute transactions on behalf of users, or make decisions for users, they may enter a realm subject to regulation.This statement comes at a time of increasing regulatory controversy. Coin Center emphasized that developers should not be treated as financial intermediaries for the convenience of law enforcement. It calls for upholding existing free speech principles in the context of new technologies, rather than expanding the boundaries of criminal liability. (Cointelegraph)