Today in crypto, a newly-discovered malware called ModStealer is targeting crypto users across several operating systems, posing risks to wallets and access credentials, metaverse-tied NFT sales jumped 27% last month, and BlackRock is repor…
Today in crypto, a newly-discovered malware called ModStealer is targeting crypto users across several operating systems, posing risks to wallets and access credentials, metaverse-tied NFT sales jumped 27% last month, and BlackRock is reportedly exploring tokenized exchange-traded funds (ETFs).
New ModStealer malware targets crypto wallets across operating systems
A newly-discovered malware called ModStealer is targeting crypto users across macOS, Windows and Linux systems, posing risks to wallets and access credentials.
Apple-focused security firm Mosyle uncovered the malware, saying it remained completely undetected by major antivirus engines for almost a month after being uploaded to VirusTotal, an online platform that analyzes files to detect malicious content, 9to5mac reported.
Mosyle said ModStealer is designed to extract data, with pre-loaded code that steals private keys, certificates, credential files and browser-based wallet extensions. The security researchers found targeting logic for different wallets, including extensions on Safari and Chromium-based browsers.
The security firm said the malware persists on macOS by abusing the system to register as a background agent. The team said the server is hosted in Finland but believes the infrastructure is routed through Germany to mask the operators’ origin.
The malware is reportedly being distributed through fake job recruitment ads, a tactic that has been increasingly used to target Web3 developers and builders.
Metaverse “still has a heartbeat” as NFT sales up 27%
The metaverse has shown it “still has a heartbeat” as non-fungible token (NFT) sales jumped 27% in August, suggesting users are “slowly sneaking back into virtual worlds,” DappRadar said on Thursday.
Metaverse trading volume hit $6.5 million in August, down from July’s $6.7 million. Still, sales rose to 13,927 last month compared to July’s 10,900 in what DappRadar called the second month of “steady activity” in metaverses including the Sandbox, Mocaverse, Otherside and Decentraland.
DappRadar analyst Sara Gherghelas said the August figures show the “metaverse isn’t dead yet,” but the virtual worlds have shaved volume and users compared to their peak hype in 2021 and 2022, which was driven by speculation, excitement and huge amounts of capital being poured into the tech.
DappRadar said the top platforms are focused on building for the long term, with a focus on infrastructure, with The Sandbox, Otherside and Decentraland all recently announcing major upgrades and updates.
BlackRock weighs ETF tokenization as JPMorgan flags industry shift: Report
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is reportedly exploring ways to tokenize exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on the blockchain, following the strong performance of its spot Bitcoin ETFs.
Citing sources familiar with the discussions, Bloomberg reported Thursday that the company is considering tokenizing funds with exposure to real-world assets (RWA). Any such move, however, would need to navigate regulatory hurdles.
ETFs have become one of the most popular investment vehicles — so widespread, in fact, that they now outnumber publicly listed stocks, according to Morningstar.
Tokenizing ETFs could potentially allow them to trade beyond standard market hours and be used as collateral in decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.
BlackRock’s interest in tokenization is not new. It already manages the world’s largest tokenized money market fund, the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), which holds $2.2 billion in assets across Ethereum, Avalanche, Aptos, Polygon and other blockchains.
JPMorgan has called tokenization a “significant leap” for the $7 trillion money market fund industry, pointing to the initiative launched by Goldman Sachs and Bank of New York Mellon, which BlackRock will join at launch.
Under the initiative, BNY clients will gain access to money market funds with share ownership registered directly on Goldman Sachs’ private blockchain.
