Welcome to the Protocol, Coindesk’s weekly wrapping of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development. I am Margaux Nijkerk, Coindesk’s Ethereum reporter.
In this number:
- Hi, Hood: Ethereum welcomes a new test network
- Microsoft raises alarm from malware targeted coin base, metamask wallets
- Halliday travel $ 20 million
- Sam Altman’s World Network and Razer will defeat Gaming’s Bot problem
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Network news
Hi, Hood: Ethereum welcomes a new test network: Ethereum developers launched a new test network, Hood, this week that will be used to perform blockchain’s upcoming “pectra” upgrade. Pectra goes live on Hood on March 26, and if all goes well, the long -awaited upgrade to Ethereum’s mainnet continues about 30 days later, according to the network’s core developers. Hood was created after defective pectra tests on Ethereum’s other test nettes, Holeky and Sepolia, which could not complete properly due to problems with how they were configured. Test networks such as Holeky, Sepolia and Hood are aiming to emulate the most important Ethereum-Network-Well allows developers to test code changes or major upgrades such as pectra in a low insert environment before implementing them to mainnet. – Margaux Nijkerk Read more.
Microsoft raises alarm from malware -measurement of coinbase, metamask -cartoon books: Tech Giant Microsoft shared a new report warned about malware targeting 20 of the most popular cryptocurrency -draw books used with Google Chrome extension. Microsoft’s incidental responders raised alarms from a new remote access Trojan (rat), called Stilachirate, which could implement “sophisticated techniques to avoid detection, persist in the target environment and exfilter sensitive data,” the team divided into a blog post. Malware was discovered in November 2024, and it could steal users’ wallet information, and any credentials, including usernames and passwords, stored in their Google Chrome browser. Stilachirate is targeted at 20 crypto drawing books including some of the most commonly used used such as Metamask, Coinbase Wallet, Phantom, OKX Wallet and BNB Chain Wallet. While malware has not been distributed widely, Microsoft shared that it has not been able to identify which device is behind the threat and set some remedial guidelines for current goals, including the installation of antivirus software. – Margaux Nijkerk Read more.
Halliday travel $ 20 million Artificial Intelligence (AI)-focused blockchain protocol Halliday said it raised $ 20 million to help fund the development of its Agent-Workflow Protocol (AWP) aiming to accelerate the development of decentralized finance (defi) applications and avoid the need for programmers to write smart contracts. The Serie A Financing Round was led by the venture capital giant Andreessen Horowitz (A16Z) crypto arm. “Our mission is to pioneer the software era with blockchain, enabling developers to build applications for hours, not years,” Halliday said in an E -mail message. “With Halliday you can never sign a smart contract again.” And Jamie Crawley + Ai Boost Read more.
Sam Altmans World Network and Razer will defeat Gaming’s Bot problem: Sam Altman’s blockchain project, World Network, collaborates with the game hardware company Razer on a package of features designed to wipe out bots from video games. “Razer ID verified by World ID” is a single sign-on mechanism that will verify real human players from Bots. It is built on top of Razer ID, Razer’s existing login service, and will help guarantee that there is “a real person behind each Razer ID account”, according to a statement shared by Razer and World. The collaboration between the two companies comes as tools for artificial intelligence (AI) seeping into every corner of online life-Inclusive inside video games, which have been plagued by non-human Ai-bots “since long before The Rise of Altmans Chatgpt.- Margaux Nijkerk Read more.
In other news
- EOS Network, known for its scalable blockchain infrastructure, is converting to Vaulta when it comes to web3 banking. The transition comes with a token swap that is currently scheduled until the end of May. It also comes with the launch of Vaulta Banking Advisory Council, a group of economic and blockchain industry experts who focused on bridging traditional banking and decentralized systems. Members include Leaders of Systemic Trust, Tetra and ATB Financial, according to a press release shared with Coindesk. – Francisco Rodrigues Reports.
- Solana-based decentralized exchange Raydium is set to start its own token issuing platform in the coming weeks to generate more revenue for the already popular trade service. Raydium’s launchlab will originally look like Hit Token Issuing Platform Pump.Fun, Blockworks reported first. Although developers say it will have more added features that make it more appealing to token launches. – Shaurya Malwa Reports.
- The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is set to hand over the appeal against Ripple and end a four-year legal battle, according to the company’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse. The XRP token, which is closely associated with Ripple, jumped 10% Wednesday in US morning hours after Garlinghouse, which was sent about the news of X. – Krisztian Sandor and Helene Braun report.
