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Bitcoin sidechain creators tout new ‘permissionless’ version BitVM2
Robin Linus has unveiled a new whitepaper for BitVM2 and BitVM Bridge, two new developments that offer significant improvements to the original version of BitVM.
The creators of the Bitcoin scaling solution Bitcoin Virtual Machine (BitVM) have floated the second iteration of their sidechain, dubbed “BitVM2,” and the BitVM Bridge, which they say now offers “major improvements” to the original system.
In an Aug. 15 post to X, BitVM contributor Alexei Zamyatin shared an overview of a new white paper that introduces a new framework for how BitVM2 and the BitVM Bridge would function.
ZeroSync project lead and BitVM creator Robin Linus first unveiled BitVM in October last year in a bid to bring off-chain smart contracts to the Bitcoin network without requiring a soft fork. Read More
Crypto Criminals Shift Focus to Centralized Exchanges, Chainalysis Report Reveals
Chainalysis found some attackers, including those linked to North Korea, have even gone as far as applying for IT jobs at targeted companies.
Crypto criminals are increasingly targeting centralized exchanges, having made off with more than $1.5 billion in the first half of the year, according to a mid-year report by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.
It marks a significant shift after four years of heightened focus on decentralized platforms. The report attributes this change to the growing sophistication of attackers, who are now employing advanced social engineering tactics.
Chainalysis highlighted that some attackers, including those linked to North Korea, have even gone as far as applying for IT jobs at targeted companies.
That strategy has enabled them to penetrate centralized exchanges, which, despite their more mature and robust security measures, offer larger potential payoffs. Read More
Building a sustainable gaming ecosystem: QORPO AMA recap
To revive, GameFi needs traditional gamers and an easier user experience without overemphasizing the Web3 stack. QORPO WORLD is on a quest to make this happen.
Amid the market turmoil, GameFi may be a safe haven that hasn’t been completely shattered. The sector may be the one to look forward to again, thanks to the popularity of tap-to-earn games and traditional game studios starting to integrate blockchain and develop blockchain-based projects.
Meanwhile, some GameFi projects, such as QORPO WORLD, are experimenting with token models and trying to deliver a truly immersive and fun experience to gamers of all backgrounds, including traditional ones. Sebastian Soos, QORPO WORLD’s Chief Business Officer, described his platform’s innovative approaches during the recent Cointelegraph AMA session.
In the highly competitive gaming space, the company has created a unique path since 2019. Soos highlighted QORPO’s key differences: “First, we’ve built our own gaming infrastructure, our own gaming platform, in-house. Second, we’re developing two games simultaneously, both within the shooter genre, but with different gameplay experiences.“ Read More
Styx Stealer malware exploits Windows vulnerability to ‘clip’ crypto
Styx Stealer steals data and can reroute crypto transactions coming from an infected computer to the bad actor’s wallet.
New malware called Styx Stealer has been uncovered by cybersecurity solutions provider Check Point Research. The newly discovered malware can steal a vast array of material, including cryptocurrency, through a mechanism known as clipping. It is freely available on a rental basis on the developer’s website.
Windows users with an up-to-date operating system are safe from the malware, since Styx Stealer depends on a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Defender that was patched last year.
Styx Stealer was discovered because the developer experienced a data leak during debugging. It is derived from an older malware called Phemedrone Stealer. It maintains the functions of Phemedrone Stealer, such as stealing saved passwords, cookies, auto-fill data, cryptocurrency wallet data and instant messenger sessions, while incorporating new detection evasion techniques and adding a crypto clipper function.
Cryptocurrency clipping occurs when malware substitutes a crypto recipient’s wallet address with the bad actor’s wallet during a transaction. Read More
The New Mini Blog Newsfeed Is Here At Markethive! A significant achievement unlocked, with many more to come
The Markethive Social Market Broadcasting Network is rapidly gaining prominence as a blockchain-based ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs with a unique blend of uncensored expression and impartial dialogue, fostering a spirit of collaboration. This sets it apart from the often divisive and restrictive social media landscape.
At Markethive, your experience is our top priority. That's why we're recognized for our evolutionary and innovative ethos. We consistently broaden our decentralized, all-encompassing platform, creating a distinctive news feed interface that fully captures the user's experience.
We operate as an Inbound Marketing platform similar to Marketo and Paragon. The platform is comparable to popular platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. However, we aim to surpass these traditional Web 2.0 media platforms with the upcoming release of Markethive 2.0, which includes various new features and an improved layout.
In contrast to traditional social media platforms, which rely on a single, primary news feed algorithmically set by the central authorities, Markethive's innovative approach will incorporate four distinct news feeds tailored to support the diverse range of features and functions within the Markethive ecosystem.
Markethive's feeds, including the Conglomerate or general newsfeed, video content, blogging, and curated content, are all about putting you in control. With advanced algorithms, you can tailor these feeds to your preferences, giving you the power to shape your Markethive experience. Markethive's reach is vast, as it consolidates the various features of other platforms into a single, unified system. Read More
Monero Vets Prep Tari Token, Promising Easier Mining for Newbies Than Bitcoin
Tari Universe promises easy, at-home mining, aiming to bring onboard the next generation of crypto users.
In a bid to simplify the complex world of cryptocurrency for a new generation, a group of former Monero developers, including core contributor Riccardo Spagni (also known as “fluffypony”), are launching the testnet of their Tari Universe desktop application for mining the eponymous Tari token.
According to Tari contributor Naveen Jain, Tari was inspired by the early days of Bitcoin when anyone could mine cryptocurrency on their computer without the need for specialized equipment—before expensive, energy-consuming mining rigs became the norm.
“If you think about a new person who doesn't already have a MetaMask wallet installed and doesn't have an account with some exchange, how do they participate?” Jain, who was also an early Monero miner, told Decrypt.
“Back in the day when Bitcoin first launched, people could just mine Bitcoin on their existing computers—that's how this whole industry started,” he continued. “What if we brought things back to the way Bitcoin first started, where anyone can download free software from the internet, install it, and start to mine a new blockchain protocol?” Read More
Mastercard Is Betting on Crypto—But Not Stablecoins
Global commerce will soon live on-chain, an exec tells Decrypt, and traditional banks could be the center of that new system.
Mastercard is all-in on blockchain. Earlier this week, the payments giant launched a debit card with MetaMask that allows holders to spend self-custodied tokens at any store or site where Mastercard is accepted (see: almost everywhere).
“We’re opening up this crypto purchase power to our 100 million-plus acceptance locations,” Raj Dhamodharan, Mastercard's head of crypto and blockchain, told Decrypt. “If consumers want to buy into it, if they want to be able to use it, we want to enable that—in a safe way.”
Perhaps in the name of safety, the new MetaMask Card isn’t compatible with most cryptocurrencies. You can’t use it to buy a plane ticket with Pepecoin, or a sandwich with SHIB. The card is only compatible with dominant stablecoins USDT and USDC, as well as wrapped Ethereum.
As traditional financial systems and blockchain technology become increasingly intertwined, stablecoins—which are pegged to the price of fiat currency held in reserve—have surged in popularity as a sturdy means of linking off-chain and on-chain worlds. Read More
Clicker games and more: 6 projects growing on TON blockchain
The TON ecosystem has seen a significant influx of new users amid promising new projects appearing on the blockchain.
The most talked about topic in crypto in recent months has been the proliferation of The Open Network (TON) blockchain and its native token, Toncoin.
Initially developed in 2018 by the eponymous encrypted messaging app, TON was described as a platform for decentralized applications and services.
TON’s connection to the Telegram messaging app helps to capture the attention of the latter’s audience, and with a simple connection process, it’s easy for Telegram users to start exploring the TON blockchain.
Another important factor is the TON Foundation’s focus on building a strong ecosystem. Grants and the TON Open League offer incentives for applications to develop the blockchain.
In recent months, the blockchain has seen massive growth as a number of viral applications based on the network have taken off. Here are some of the most popular: Read More
Why Crypto Protocols Need Preventative Tools to Mitigate Attacks
Monitoring and audits aren't enough to avoid hacks: Spherex Technologies CEO Eyal Meron explains why crypto protocols need to rethink security.
On June 2, Velocore’s protocol on Ethereum layer-2 network Linea was hacked, resulting in losses of $6.8 million worth of ETH. The attack, which leveraged a fee overflow bug, resulted in Linea halting operations for an hour in an attempt to mitigate the fallout, and prompted an extensive postmortem.
While the Velocore hack will go down as June’s first major on-chain exploit, it was by no means its last. Another six protocol hacks occurred in the month as recorded by DefiLlama, bringing June’s total losses to over $140 million, while July’s losses totaled $277 million. And May was even worse, with $373 million pocketed by attackers leveraging everything from flash loan exploits to compromised private keys.
The crypto industry has grown accustomed to hacks, which have exfiltrated $6 billion from DeFi protocols alone. This might be normal in crypto, but it isn’t in mainstream society. For as long as this problem remains unchecked, talk of Web3 mass adoption will remain a pipe dream. Read More
Disclaimer: These articles are provided for informational purposes only. They are not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other advice.
Featured Image Source: Pixabay
