Crypto Weekly Roundup: Brazil Faces WhatsApp Worm, Cardano Chain Temporarily Halted, & More

This week, Brazil was hit by a newly identified WhatsApp worm and trojan campaign, compromising cryptocurrency wallets and bank accounts. Meanwhile, Cardano suffered a temporary chain split after a malformed transaction triggered a validation flaw, and Mt. Gox moved nearly $1 billion in Bitcoin, renewing speculation about upcoming creditor payments.

Bitcoin

El Salvador has ramped up its Bitcoin (BTC) purchases during the latest market downturn, continuing its accumulation strategy despite pressure from the IMF and an ongoing global selloff. According to the country’s Bitcoin Office, El Salvador purchased 1,091 BTC on Tuesday, adding 1,098.19 BTC over the past week.

Defunct cryptocurrency exchange Mt. Gox has moved almost $1 billion worth of Bitcoin in its first major transaction in over eight months. The move has renewed speculation about upcoming creditor repayments amid an extended rehabilitation timeline.

Ethereum

BlackRock has registered the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust in the state of Delaware, taking a significant step towards the launch of a staked Ethereum ETF. The filing is the world’s largest asset manager’s latest move to expand its crypto ETF offerings as competition in the sector grows.

Technology

The Cardano blockchain was temporarily split on Friday after a malformed delegation transaction triggered a validation flaw. The mismatch was triggered by a user who later posted a public apology on X, stating that he was responsible for the incorrect transaction.

Business

The Abu Dhabi Investment Council has tripled its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) during the third quarter. The investment council has raised its IBIT holdings to 8 million shares, worth $518 million, making a substantial pivot towards regulated Bitcoin investment products.

Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has filed the paperwork for an initial public offering (IPO) in the United States. The exchange confirmed the submission of a draft registration statement on Form S-1 to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the first formal step towards a potential listing.

Fidelity Investments has launched its first Solana ETF, with staking as institutional interest in SOL-backed financial instruments grows. The Fidelity Solana Fund (FSOL) is the firm’s third spot crypto ETF and the first to incorporate staking.

Security

A new WhatsApp-based worm-and-trojan malware campaign in Brazil is compromising crypto wallets and bank accounts. The campaign uses a rapidly spreading malware cluster called Eternidade and involves WhatsApp hacking to spread a trojan used to harvest financial credentials.

Web3

Synthetic Dollar protocol Falcon Finance has revealed a new transparency and security framework for USDf. The new standard is a reflection of the demand from its users and the level the protocol aspires to reach after the supply of its yield-bearing stablecoin has crossed $2 billion.

There have been several specific implementations to translate personal intelligence concepts into accessible consumer products. Products like ConsumerFi are building infrastructure to convert fragmented consumer data into what can best be described as “user-owned intelligence.”

Regulation

The United States Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has confirmed that banks can hold and use cryptocurrency to pay blockchain network fees required for permissible activities. The clarification references the GENIUS Act, which outlines circumstances when banks may need to manage network fees on behalf of their customers, or as part of stablecoin-related activities during routine operations.

The White House is reviewing a proposal to join a global tax reporting framework that could grant the IRS access to US citizens’ offshore crypto accounts. If the framework is adopted, the US will join a select group of nations committed to implementing tax standards outlined in the Global Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).

Biometric blockchain platform Serenity has secured white paper notification through the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) and publication in the ESMA Interim MiCA register.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.