News linked to both this project and an event.
Odaily News: Cybersecurity firm Check Point Research has discovered that the StopAndProtect ransomware operation has been using nearly 2,000 compromised WordPress websites to spread malware, steal data, monitor victims, and deploy ransomware. The operation was first identified in mid-May.As of July 24, the operation had compromised more than 6,000 unique IP addresses, with 1,852 in the United States, and 630 each in Russia and India. The compromised websites were also used to host malware, relay commands, and store stolen files, screenshots, and activity logs.Attackers lured Windows users into running PowerShell commands through fake CAPTCHA prompts, enabling them to steal credentials and cryptocurrency wallet seed phrases, and spread further across networks and USB devices. Researchers collected more than 31,000 screenshots and over 700 compressed data archives, and believe the attackers may have accidentally infected themselves at some point. (Decrypt)
According to Decrypt, Coinbase announced the official launch of perpetual futures trading in the Base App via Hyperliquid integration. Eligible users can access up to 50x leverage across over 290 perpetual contract markets, including BTC, ETH, tokenized stocks, and commodities. Coinbase Head of Engineering Chintan Turakhia noted that perpetual contracts constitute approximately 75% of current crypto trading volume and are the most requested feature among high-frequency Base App users.
Odaily News: During a meeting at the White House with executives from crypto and financial firms, U.S. President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass a "fair version" of the Clarity Act, stating that market structure legislation is the next step in his digital assets policy.The meeting was attended by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Michael Selig, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Paul Atkins, White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt, as well as executives from Coinbase, Ripple, Robinhood, and Kraken.The Clarity Act would establish federal rules for digital assets and clarify the regulatory jurisdictions of the SEC and CFTC. The bill is expected to return to the Senate in September, where Republicans will still need support from about six Democratic senators to reach the 60-vote threshold. (Decrypt)
: Base announced the launch of the Batches 004 accelerator program, which will select 10 startups over an 8-week program, with each receiving $100,000 in investment funded by the Base Ecosystem Fund. Applications close on September 9, and the program will hold Demo Day in New York in November. This round is aimed at pre-seed startups focused on trading, payments, funding, and AI agents, covering products that use stablecoins to support agent shopping, trading, and payments, as well as lending, e-commerce, and decentralized AI infrastructure. Teams may support multiple blockchains but must have Base as their primary network. Selected teams will receive dedicated advisors, weekly support, and exposure assistance within the Base ecosystem, and will present their projects to investors at Demo Day. Coinbase launched Agentic Wallets on Base in February and Coinbase for Agents in June, which respectively enable AI agents to hold USDC and pay via the x402 protocol, and to directly connect to user accounts. (Decrypt)
blockchain forensics firm Chainalysis Government Solutions filed a bid protest with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims on July 27, opposing the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) decision to award a contract worth approximately $94.6 million to competitor TRM Labs on a sole-source basis. The contract, covering the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, involves blockchain forensics software and support services for Homeland Security task forces investigating fraud, cybercrime, and sextortion cases. Chainalysis argues that ICE's decision was arbitrary and unreasonable. TRM Labs joined the case as an intervenor-defendant on July 28, defending the contract alongside the U.S. government. The court has allowed Chainalysis to temporarily seal its complaint, with oral arguments scheduled for September 2. ICE stated that after approximately six days of market research, it determined that none of the eight responding companies could meet the requirements. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Cryptocurrency platform Bitpanda has been fined €70,000 by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), making it the first publicly disclosed enforcement action under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). The ruling is now legally binding. The FMA stated that Bitpanda failed to submit its crypto asset white paper to the regulator at least 20 working days before publication, and published marketing communications prior to the white paper's release. Another marketing communication also lacked a disclaimer stating that it had not been reviewed or approved by the regulator, as well as telephone and email contact information. The violations relate to procedural and disclosure requirements, and do not involve allegations of fraud or investor losses. The MiCA rules for crypto asset service providers took full effect at the end of 2024, and the transition period for existing firms is gradually coming to an end. Bitpanda holds a MiCA license and is expanding across Europe. The EU is expected to revisit the framework in 2027 and tighten oversight of non-EU stablecoin issuers. (Decrypt)
Odaily News According to reports, multiple prediction markets are converging on pricing for the Fed's September meeting outcome: approximately 74% probability of holding rates steady, about 25% probability of a 25 basis point rate hike, and nearly 1% probability of a rate cut. Relevant Polymarket contracts have seen trading volume of $33.9 million; Kalshi, a prediction exchange regulated by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), shows a 73.5% probability of holding rates steady, with related wagers nearing $10 million. Myriad, a prediction platform operated by Dastan, indicates approximately 71% probability for this option. The Fed's July meeting voted 9 to 3 to hold rates at 3.50% to 3.75%, with 3 committee members supporting a rate hike. The FOMC is scheduled to meet from September 15 to 16, with the statement planned for release on September 16; a survey shows nearly 70% of economists expect rates to remain unchanged for the remainder of 2026. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: The Dutch National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has reported that attackers are exploiting a vulnerability in Apple's macOS Screen Sharing feature to take control of devices and install Monero mining programs. Multiple systems with port 5900 exposed to the internet have been compromised, with attackers gaining root access. The vulnerability, tracked as CVE-2026-65400, has a severity score of 7.1 out of 10. It stems from a state management error in the authentication process, allowing remote attackers to bypass login verification without valid credentials. Public proof-of-concept code has already been circulated. Apple has addressed the issue in macOS Sequoia 15.7.9, Sonoma 14.8.9, and Tahoe 26.6.1. The NCSC advises users to update their systems promptly and avoid exposing the Screen Sharing service directly to the internet. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: The Irish government has published its first national Anti-Money Laundering (AML) strategy, which plans to strengthen scrutiny of digital asset transfers involving private crypto wallets (self-hosted wallets) and raise due diligence requirements for crypto firms collaborating with overseas institutions.According to an announcement from the Irish Department of Finance, the strategy implements the remaining requirements of the EU's Transfer of Funds Regulation, requiring crypto asset service providers (CASPs) to conduct "enhanced checks" on transfers involving private wallets, while also implementing stricter customer due diligence when conducting business with overseas crypto firms.The measures are based on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)'s "Travel Rule," which requires digital asset transactions to include sender and recipient information to enhance transparency in fund flows.Ireland stated that the new regulations are being advanced in tandem with the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). MiCA establishes a unified regulatory framework for crypto asset service providers, while Ireland previously granted its domestic crypto firms a transition period of 12 months—shorter than the maximum 18 months allowed by the EU. That transition period ended at the end of December 2025, so the new requirements will now apply directly to firms with full authorization. (Decrypt)
Decentralized finance platform Ether.fi announced that its self-custody app has added trading for tokenized stocks, metals, and crypto assets, along with the ability to borrow against multiple holdings as collateral. Users can lend assets or borrow against a portfolio through the integrated Aave market on Optimism, allowing them to transfer or spend borrowed funds without selling their positions. Ether.fi stated that its fiat accounts support global deposits and withdrawals across more than 30 currencies and payment methods. However, tokenized stock and metal trading is not available to users in the United States and certain other markets. Fiat accounts are only open to users who have completed payment card identity verification, and deposit and withdrawal speeds may vary. Ether.fi will also introduce automatic ETHFI buybacks and offer 3% cashback on card spending. Ether.fi founder and CEO Mike Silagadze said that initial support will cover Ethereum, Bitcoin, Hyperliquid, ETHFI, and select tokenized stocks and gold, with additional collateral assets to be added later. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) plans to unveil two crypto-related initiatives in the coming days, while Congress's CLARITY Act remains stalled at least until September. The SEC is expected to propose "Regulation Crypto" at a public meeting on Friday, allowing projects to raise funds through token sales without completing full securities registration. The SEC also plans to introduce an "innovation exemption" for tokenized stocks, with details potentially released on Friday. The exemption would allow tokenized versions of stocks such as Apple, Tesla, and Nvidia to trade on the blockchain 24/7, with support for fractional trading and near-instant settlement. Such tokens typically track the economic exposure of the underlying stock but do not carry voting rights or dividend entitlements. The initiative falls under SEC Chairman Paul Atkins's "Project Crypto" agenda, with Robinhood Chain, Solana, and Base all having advanced related on-chain markets. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: After a firmware vulnerability in Coldcard hardware wallets was exploited, approximately 2,100 Bitcoin were stolen, with losses nearing $130 million. On-chain data shows that in the days surrounding the incident, wallets held by long-term holders transferred out approximately 233,000 Bitcoin, valued at around $15 billion. Casa CEO Nick Neuman stated that some of the transferred funds came from Coldcard users migrating to multi-signature wallets, with Ledger and Trezor users also taking similar measures after the event. During the same period, approximately 22,000 Bitcoin were transferred into exchanges. Coinkite has advised users who generated seed phrases using firmware versions 4.0.1 through 4.1.9 to treat their wallets as compromised and immediately migrate to new seed phrases. These versions cover the period from March 2021 to July 2026. (Decrypt)
: Israeli cybersecurity firm A Security has disclosed that researchers, using publicly available AI models and fewer than 20 prompts, discovered vulnerabilities in the annotation tool of the video conferencing platform Zoom and built a working exploit within 24 hours. The related vulnerabilities are tracked as CVE-2026-53413, CVE-2026-53414, and CVE-2026-53415. Attackers can join or host a meeting without requiring any victim action or visible prompts, then attack any participant and take over their device. The attack has been tested across Zoom applications on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Once an attacker gains control of a device, they can steal personal data, activate the microphone or camera, or install additional malware. A Security reported the first vulnerability to Zoom on June 10, and Zoom issued fixes incrementally from June 22 to July 20. Because server-side protections in end-to-end encrypted meetings cannot filter malicious messages, users are still advised to update to the latest version. (Decrypt)
crypto lending firm Figure Lending LLC offers cryptocurrency-backed loans, allowing borrowers to use Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Solana as collateral to access cash of up to 75% of the collateral's value while retaining ownership of their tokens. Such loans generally do not constitute a sale and typically do not trigger a capital gains event. Figure Lending LLC stated that borrowers should compare maximum loan-to-value ratios, fixed or variable interest rates, regulatory licensing, and liquidation terms. The firm offers fixed-rate loans with a 12-month term, a maximum annual percentage rate of 12.62%, and supports same-day funding without requiring a credit score, as approval is based on the collateral. Figure provides an optional liquidation protection feature, available in select states, which may defer liquidation during the loan term due to price declines; however, liquidation may still occur if the loan becomes delinquent. This feature does not apply to non-payment, default, or violation of loan terms, and declines in crypto asset prices may still trigger margin calls. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: The North Korean regime stole at least $2.8 billion in crypto assets between January 2024 and September 2025, increasingly laundering them through established criminal networks. According to a report by the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a UK-based defense and security think tank, the funds are believed to support its weapons programs. Stolen tokens frequently change ownership before being converted into cash, with third parties sometimes purchasing them at a discount or mixing them with proceeds from investment scams such as "pig butchering" schemes. Cashing out primarily relies on "money mules" recruited in the Philippines, Indonesia, and China, where stablecoins are typically split up and sold through peer-to-peer markets. After the Bybit hack, ZeroShadow found that TraderTraitor moved funds through over-the-counter (OTC) desks, peer-to-peer traders, and Chinese organized crime syndicates. Bybit has recovered $48.4 million and frozen $30.5 million in assets, accounting for roughly 5% of the stolen amount in total. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Brazil's crypto market has recorded $318.8 billion in on-chain transaction value over the past 12 months, ranking fifth globally in cryptocurrency adoption, with nearly one-third of Latin America's related activity conducted through Brazilian wallets and platforms. Blockchain security firm CertiK stated that virtual asset service providers must submit authorization applications to the Central Bank of Brazil (BCB) by October 30, 2026, accompanied by independent audit reports. On November 10, 2025, the Central Bank of Brazil issued three resolutions clarifying the licensing scope, minimum capital requirements, and foreign exchange rules for virtual asset service providers. Minimum capital requirements for different license categories range from approximately R$10.8 million to R$37.2 million. Among the current approximately 120 service providers, most have not yet obtained formal licenses, and overseas operators must relocate their operations to Brazil within 270 days. Approximately 80% of Brazil's declared cryptocurrency transaction volume is settled via dollar-pegged tokens, with USDT accounting for 88.7% of that share. Total stablecoin transaction volume from 2019 to 2025 reached R$1.13 trillion. CertiK statistics show that the crypto industry suffered losses of $1.32 billion due to hacker attacks and exploit incidents in the first half of 2026, involving 344 events. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Standard Chartered initiated coverage on Monday of blockchain oracle project Chainlink, projecting LINK to reach $200 by the end of 2030 — roughly 25 times its current price of around $8. The bank's phased targets are $13 by the end of this year, followed by $41, $82, and $133. Standard Chartered estimates that the on-chain tokenized asset market will reach $4 trillion by the end of 2028, with DeFi-deployed assets hitting $2.7 trillion by 2030 — a 37-fold increase from current levels. The bank expects Chainlink fees to grow approximately 25-fold over the same period, assuming token prices track fee growth. Chainlink secures over $110 billion in total value, covering approximately 70% of the value that global DeFi relies on from oracles, with a share exceeding 80% on Ethereum; Aave V3 accounts for 44% of that. Swift, DTCC, Euroclear, JPMorgan, Mastercard, UBS, Fidelity, and S&P Global are all listed as institutions using its services. Chainlink still lags behind LayerZero in cross-chain interoperability. Following the $292 million attack in April, over $7 billion in token value has migrated to Chainlink CCIP, with second-quarter transaction volume reaching $4.9 billion — up 353% year-over-year. Risks include slowing institutional tokenization, pilots not converting to production processes, and technical failures impacting confidence. (Decrypt)
Odaily News: Apple has limited the number of vulnerability reports a single researcher can submit at one time because its security team has received a large number of submissions generated by AI, many of which do not actually contain real flaws. Apple stated that researchers can request a higher limit at any time, and the company is also using AI internally to triage submissions.Bynario, a Milan-based cybersecurity startup, said it used OpenAI's ChatGPT to discover more than 50 vulnerabilities in the latest version of macOS within three weeks, including a privilege escalation chain that could give attackers full control of a Mac device.Bynario stated that it was unable to report this vulnerability because Apple had already rejected further submissions. Bynario CEO Alfredo Pesoli estimated the vulnerability's value on the criminal market at $100,000 to $200,000. Apple said it has reached out to the company and reviewed its work. In June, Apple added a submission cap and a 30-day cooldown period to its security portal. In a recent security update, Apple listed vulnerabilities discovered with the assistance of Anthropic and OpenAI software, with the number of fixes approximately five times that of a normal cycle. (Decrypt)
According to Decrypt, Microsoft is silently pushing the new OneDrive Photos app to some Windows 11 users via Windows Update or OneDrive client updates. The app can automatically index local photo libraries, supports natural language AI search and optical character recognition, and includes an optional face grouping feature. Since face data is considered biometric information in some regions, this feature requires users to actively enable it. Notably, the app currently cannot be uninstalled separately; users who wish to remove it must fully uninstall OneDrive.
According to Decrypt, a report released by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) shows that estimated losses from cryptocurrency fraud in the US in 2025 reached as high as $80.7 billion, approximately 7 times the amount actually reported to the FBI ($11.37 billion). Based on 2017 Bureau of Justice Statistics survey data, the CFA extrapolated unreported losses using a 7.1x multiplier. Investment fraud was the largest single category, with estimated losses reaching $61.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 32%; losses were particularly severe for the group aged 60 and above, with losses from crypto fraud alone reaching $4.4 billion. Currently, US law enforcement agencies have taken multiple actions, including the FBI's "Operation Level Up" which has prevented approximately $500 million in losses, and the Department of Justice has also seized over $25 million in crypto assets involved in fraud.