Welcome to The Protocol, your weekly summary of the most significant developments in cryptocurrency technology. I’m here to keep you informed on all things Ethereum.
This week’s highlights include:
- Hello, Hoodi: A New Testnet Joins Ethereum
- Microsoft Sounds Alarm Over Malware Aimed at Coinbase and MetaMask Wallets
- Halliday Secures $20 Million to Fund AI Framework for Hassle-Free Smart Contract Creation in DeFi
- Sam Altman’s World Network Partners with Razer to Tackle the Bot Challenge in Gaming
This article is part of our latest newsletter edition, which dives into the technology behind cryptocurrency, one block at a time. Subscribe here to receive updates every Wednesday.
Network Updates
HELLO, HOODI: ETHEREUM INTRODUCES A NEW TESTNET: Developers have rolled out a new test network named Hoodi, designed to facilitate the anticipated “Pectra” upgrade for Ethereum. Scheduled to be activated on Hoodi on March 26, this upgrade is expected to move to Ethereum’s mainnet about 30 days later if everything functions as planned, according to the core development team. Hoodi was established after the Pectra tests on other testnets, Holesky and Sepolia, encountered issues with finalization due to configuration errors. Test networks such as Holesky, Sepolia, and Hoodi serve to replicate the main Ethereum environment, allowing developers to test code modifications or significant updates like Pectra under less risky conditions prior to mainnet deployment. — Your Ethereum Reporter Read more.
MICROSOFT SOUNDS THE ALARM OVER MALWARE TARGETING COINBASE, METAMASK WALLETS: Tech giant Microsoft has issued a new advisory regarding malware that specifically targets 20 of the most widely used cryptocurrency wallets available through Google Chrome. The firm’s Incident Response team highlighted a remote access trojan (RAT) identified as StilachiRAT, capable of using “advanced tactics to evade detection, maintain a presence in target systems, and extract sensitive information,” as detailed in their blog. Discovered in November 2024, this malware can compromise users’ wallet data and any stored credentials including usernames and passwords in their Google Chrome browser. StilachiRAT focuses on a range of cryptocurrency wallets, including popular options like MetaMask, Coinbase Wallet, Phantom, OKX Wallet, and BNB Chain Wallet. Although the malware hasn’t seen widespread distribution, Microsoft mentioned its inability to determine the source of this threat and recommended several preventive measures, including antivirus software installation. — Your Ethereum Reporter Read more.
HALLIDAY SECURES $20 MILLION FOR AI SOLUTION TO SIMPLIFY SMART CONTRACT CREATION IN DEFI: Blockchain protocol Halliday, centered on artificial intelligence, announced that it has raised $20 million to boost the development of its Agentic Workflow Protocol (AWP), which seeks to streamline decentralized finance (DeFi) application development and eliminate the necessity for programmers to manually create smart contracts. The Series A funding round was led by Andreessen Horowitz’s crypto-focused venture capital branch. “Our goal is to kickstart the software revolution in blockchain, allowing developers to build applications in a matter of hours, not years,” Halliday stated in a press release. “With Halliday, writing a smart contract is a thing of the past.” — Your Ethereum Reporter Read more.
SAM ALTMAN’S WORLD NETWORK AND RAZER SET THEIR SIGHTS ON CURBING GAMING’S BOT ISSUE: The blockchain initiative World Network, led by Sam Altman, is collaborating with gaming hardware company Razer to develop features aimed at eliminating bots from online games. The “Razer ID verified by World ID” will serve as a single sign-on feature to validate real players against bots. Built on Razer ID, the existing login system of Razer, this ensures that “a genuine person is attached to each Razer ID account,” according to statements from both organizations. This partnership comes amidst the growing prevalence of artificial intelligence tools in various aspects of life online, including gaming, which has faced challenges related to AI bots long before Altman’s ChatGPT made headlines. — Your Ethereum Reporter Read more.
In Other Developments
- EOS Network, recognized for its scalable blockchain framework, is rebranding to Vaulta as it shifts focus toward Web3 banking. This transition includes a token exchange set for late May and introduces the Vaulta Banking Advisory Council, comprising financial and blockchain experts aiming to connect traditional banking with decentralized systems. Notable members include executives from Systemic Trust, Tetra, and ATB Financial, according to press materials. – Reporting by Francisco Rodrigues
- Raydium, a decentralized exchange on the Solana network, will launch its own token issuance platform soon to boost revenue for the popular trading service. The Raydium LaunchLab will initially mimic the successful token issuance platform Pump.Fun, as first reported by Blockworks, with several enhanced features planned to attract more token launches. – Reporting by Shaurya Malwa
- According to CEO Brad Garlinghouse, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is poised to withdraw its appeal against Ripple, effectively concluding a four-year legal dispute. The XRP token, closely tied to Ripple, surged by 10% during U.S. morning trading hours following Garlinghouse’s announcement on social media. – Reporting by Krisztian Sandor and Helene Braun