Arkham Introduces New ‘Key Opinion Leader’ Tag: What it Means for Investors and Crypto Influencers?

Arkham Intelligence, the Blockchain analytics firm, in a bid to restrict the increasing dump and pump instances associated with the memecoins after their respective influencer endorsersments, has unveiled a new tag, Key Opinion Leader (KOL) for crypto influencers with 100K+ followers on X. Announced in a X post on March 8, Arkham’s new KOL feature will allow users and potential investors to track the wallets of biggest KOLs. As per the revelation, influencers with more than 100K+ followers on Twitter/X are now tagged on Arkham with a new label: Key Opinion Leader. This, according to Arkham, will ensure the transparency for traders and investors before they can actually decide to pump in their money in the influencer-backed Memecoins. The KOL addition aims to identify and categorize influential figures in the crypto space based on their on-chain activities. While the move has sparked interest, it has also raised critical questions about privacy, transparency, and the potential impact on crypto influencers. This BrandTalk article will critically analyse the impacts of this new Arkham’s tag for crypto influencers. Stay tuned. What Is the KOL Tag? Arkham’s KOL tag is designed to track the blockchain activities of prominent individuals in the crypto industry, labeling them as Key Opinion Leaders. This feature will allow users to analyze the financial movements, token holdings, and transaction patterns of these figures in real time. The goal, according to Arkham, is to enhance transparency within the industry by providing deeper insights into how influential players manage their digital assets. Currently, this feature includes 950 addresses, with notable figures such as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun, and U.S. President Donald Trump among those identified. The feature is expected to benefit retail traders and institutional investors by offering a clearer picture of where crypto influencers place their bets. It will give idea to the investors whether the influencer is actually endorsing the memecoins and is it just a paid-driven retweet without considering any market dynamics. However, it also poses concerns about privacy, data security, and the ethical implications of tracking crypto influencers without their consent. ANNOUNCING THE KEY OPINION LEADER (KOL) LABEL Influencers with more than 100K+ followers on Twitter/X are now tagged on Arkham with a new label: Key Opinion Leader. Track the wallets of biggest KOLs with the link below: pic.twitter.com/xOEfUUxywe — Arkham (@arkham) March 8, 2025 Why KOL Tag is good for Crypto Investors? For crypto investors, the introduction of the KOL tag could serve as a valuable tool. By analyzing the wallets of influential figures, traders may gain insights into potential market movements and investment trends. This can be particularly useful in an industry where social media narratives often drive market sentiment, particularly, in the case of memecoins, for example – the recent Milei-$LIBRA Scandal. Moreover, the feature could help curb market manipulation by exposing the trading behaviors of influencers who may be engaging in pump-and-dump schemes or other deceptive practices. With greater transparency, the crypto community may be able to hold high-profile figures accountable for their market actions. According to the 2024 study by CoinWireZ on influencers-backed Memecoins, 76% of Twitter influencers promote dad Memecoins. It further reveals that only 1% of influencers promoted memecoins that gained 10x while 86% of influencer-promoted memecoins lost 90% of their value in 3 months. It further exposes a disturbing trend: he larger the influencer’s following, the lower the performance of the memecoins they promote. What Arkham’s KOL implies for Crypto Influencers? For legitimate influencers who advocate for responsible investing, the KOL tag could serve as a credibility marker. By having their transactions publicly visible, these individuals may strengthen their reputations as transparent and trustworthy voices in the industry. Despite its potential benefits, Arkham’s KOL tag also presents significant privacy concerns. Critics argue that tracking and labeling individuals without their explicit consent could infringe on their right to financial privacy. Even though blockchain transactions are inherently public, systematically categorizing and exposing influencers’ trading behaviors could lead to security risks and increased scrutiny. Some crypto influencers have already expressed discomfort with the idea, fearing that such visibility could make them targets for hacking attempts, phishing scams, or even personal attacks. Others worry that the feature could be misused, with individuals being wrongly tagged or facing unnecessary reputational risks due to misinterpretations of their financial activity. Furthermore, the feature raises questions about selective transparency. While influencers’ transactions may be easily accessible, large institutional players and anonymous whales often operate through complex layers of wallets and intermediaries, making their activities harder to track. This discrepancy could create an uneven playing field where only a specific subset of market participants face intense scrutiny. Some experts suggest that Arkham should introduce an opt-in mechanism, allowing influencers to voluntarily participate in the program rather than being tagged without consent. Others propose a more nuanced approach where only broad wallet statistics are shared, rather than specific transaction details. The Future of Crypto Influencer Tracking As the crypto industry continues to mature, the balance between transparency and privacy remains a contentious issue. Arkham’s KOL tag is just one example of how blockchain analytics firms are pushing the boundaries of on-chain data usage. While the tool may offer valuable insights for traders and regulators, it also raises fundamental questions about ethics and personal security in an increasingly transparent digital economy. Ultimately, the success or failure of the KOL tag will depend on how the industry responds and whether Arkham can address the valid concerns raised by privacy advocates. As blockchain technology evolves, finding a middle ground between openness and individual rights will be crucial in shaping the future of financial transparency in crypto. The post Arkham Introduces New ‘Key Opinion Leader’ Tag: What it Means for Investors and Crypto Influencers? appeared first on CoinGape .

Read more

Ozak AI’s Path to 300x Gains—Why Experts Believe This AI Crypto Could Be the Next Major Breakout

The crypto market is positioned for potential growth with the emergence of AI-powered cryptocurrencies and AI technology in various industries. Ozak AI is emerging as the first AI-powered cryptocurrency to integrate AI with blockchain technology, revolutionising predictive analytics in DeFi and DApps. Ozak AI is an emerging project that fuses Blockchain technology with AI, aiming to offer AI-driven tools and services. The platform integration of AI positions the project as a potential breakout in the crypto market, with analysts suggesting significant returns to early investors. Ozak AI to Soar 300x AI has been on the forefront of technological innovation and revolution in the financial market, Ozak AI integrates AI with Blockchain to offer real-world utility. Unlike Meme coins or traditional crypto, Ozak AI utilizes AI-predictive agents to analyze historical and recent market data to provide predictive insights to investors and traders. OZ token supports Ozak AI’s ecosystem by facilitating transactions and encouraging participation. Its tokenomics motivate long-term retention and may eventually support price stability and growth. With its emphasis on practical applications, Ozak AI has become a pioneer in the AI blockchain industry The ongoing Ozak AI presale has reached more than 900K in funding. The $OZ token will increase in value from $0.003 to $0.005 in future stages. In anticipation of the upcoming listing price of $0.05, investors are acquiring tokens early, believing that the market is going to grow substantially in the future. Ozak AI Market Outlook The growing demand for AI technology is attracting investors and whales to Ozak AI. As these investors shift their focus to AI-Powered crypto, Ozak AI could potentially surge by an impressive 300x by 2025. The $OZ token is expected to rise to $0.005 before its listing, a gain of up to 5000% from its initial price of $0.001. It is also projected to reach $1 by 2025. Blockchain-powered top AI initiatives are gaining popularity, with Ozak AI noted as a strong investment. The global AI market is projected to exceed $1.8 trillion by 2030, and blockchain-based solutions are expected to capture a significant share. As AI adoption in cryptocurrency grows, Ozak AI is likely to see increased user activity and investment. The 3rd stage of the Ozak AI presale is going on, and the project is already making waves in the crypto community. With an impressive over $900K raised so far, Ozak AI tokens are currently priced at just $0.003 each, with the next stage price set at $0.005. This early-stage opportunity is poised for significant growth, with projections suggesting that the token could reach $1 by 2025. For more visit: Website : https://ozak.ai/ Telegram : https://t.me/OzakAGI Twitter : https://x.com/ozakag The post Ozak AI’s Path to 300x Gains—Why Experts Believe This AI Crypto Could Be the Next Major Breakout appeared first on CoinGape .

Read more

SHIB Burns Skyrocket 1,028%, 20,633,494 SHIB Gone Forever

Massive amount of meme coins has been torched out of circulation

Read more

Bitcoin Tumbles to $82K as White House Crypto Summit Falls Flat

The cryptocurrency fell to a monthly low after markets were left unimpressed by Friday’s highly anticipated White House Crypto Summit. White House Crypto Summit Fails to Trigger Bitcoin Bull Run The Trump administration’s lackluster White House Crypto Summit was largely ceremonial in nature and appears to have contributed to a precipitous drop in the price

Read more

How Much Further Can Bitcoin (BTC) Fall? Analyst Answers, Explains Events That Could Start the Rise!

While Bitcoin has been going through difficult times in recent days, investors are looking for answers to the questions “Will the decline continue? When will the rise begin?” However, the prospects for BTC are not very encouraging. Analysts say the decline may continue. While expectations continue to decline, analysts state that the increase in Japanese bond yields and their highest level since 2008 increases the risk for BTC. At this point, analysts note that the increase in Japanese bond yields and the possibility of the Bank of Japan raising interest rates have led to concerns that there could be a significant correction in BTC. The rise in Japanese bond yields, combined with geopolitical and economic uncertainty, ongoing tariff wars, and the Federal Reserve’s cautious stance on rate cuts in 2025, are contributing to the potential decline in Bitcoin’s value. Speaking to Coindesk, BTSE Chief Operating Officer Jeff Mei said that Bitcoin could fall to the $70,000-$80,000 range in the coming days. “We believe geopolitical and economic uncertainty is causing institutions to reduce their cryptocurrency holdings. “Bitcoin could fall to the $70,000-80,000 range in the coming weeks,” he said. Only when this tariff war is over and the Fed continues to lower interest rates will Bitcoin continue to trend towards new all-time highs.” *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: How Much Further Can Bitcoin (BTC) Fall? Analyst Answers, Explains Events That Could Start the Rise!

Read more

BCH Bull: Breaking through traditional DeFi

Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only. Bitcoin Cash is emerging as a serious DeFi contender, with BCH Bull leading the charge in low-cost, high-efficiency decentralized trading. Table of Contents Bitcoin Cash: A rising force in DeFi BCH Bull: The leading DeFi protocol on Bitcoin Cash Key highlights of BCH Bull BCH Bull premiums: A unique experience The growing Bitcoin Cash ecosystem and community Conclusion Decentralized finance (DeFi) is a driving force in the cryptocurrency space, providing users with innovative ways to trade, earn yield, and manage risk without intermediaries. While networks like Ethereum and Solana have dominated the DeFi conversation, Bitcoin Cash (BCH) has been quietly evolving since the Bitcoin fork in 2017. BCH did this through multiple network upgrades, making it a strong contender for the future of permissionless financial applications. These improvements have strengthened its ability to support powerful smart contracts. With low-cost, fast transactions on a truly scalable network, Bitcoin Cash is no longer just a peer-to-peer payment system; it’s now home to a thriving DeFi ecosystem. And BCH Bull is leading the charge and locking horns with more traditional DeFi products. Bitcoin Cash: A rising force in DeFi Bitcoin Cash is a completely decentralized and permissionless cryptocurrency, and has undergone significant upgrades in recent years. This has enhanced its virtual machine and smart contract capabilities. These improvements enable developers to build robust financial applications that are both efficient and cost-effective. With its inherent scalability and minimal transaction costs, Bitcoin Cash provides a seamless user experience for traders and DeFi enthusiasts who are tired of paying exorbitant fees on congested networks. BCH Bull, the premier decentralized trading platform on Bitcoin Cash, exemplifies the network’s DeFi potential. By offering leverage trading, risk management tools, and unique financial incentives, BCH Bull is attracting users from other chains who seek faster, cheaper, and more reliable trading experiences. BCH Bull: The leading DeFi protocol on Bitcoin Cash Since its launch in 2022, BCH Bull has emerged as the leading DeFi platform on Bitcoin Cash. The platform has facilitated over 26,000 successfully redeemed contracts and processed hundreds of millions of dollars in trading volume. With leverage up to 7.77x and support for multiple assets, BCH Bull offers traders the flexibility to take long and short positions while maximizing their capital efficiency. Key highlights of BCH Bull Non-custodial: Funds always remain on the blockchain, so that there is complete user control with no custodial risk. Fully collateralized: Once a smart contract is created, all required funds to support the outcome are locked within the contract. This way, there is security, transparency, and ensured payouts under the contract’s conditions. Multiple assets: Trade with leverage on a variety of assets, including gold, silver, and major fiat currencies, expanding trading opportunities. Low network costs: Fees remain negligible compared to networks like Ethereum. Battle-tested performance: Two years of uninterrupted operation, proving its resilience and reliability, with over 26,000 successfully redeemed contracts as a testament to its adoption and market activity. Hundreds of millions of dollars in volume: BCH Bull is capturing significant market interest. Dynamic premiums: Traders can either pay or receive premiums depending on market conditions, creating additional strategic opportunities. BCH Bull premiums: A unique experience One of the standout features of BCH Bull is its premium system, which provides a unique financial incentive for traders. Unlike traditional trading platforms where users must always pay fees to enter trading positions, BCH Bull offers green premiums, meaning traders can get paid instantly to make contracts. These premiums are variable and depend on market conditions, allowing eagle-eyed traders to capitalize on strategic opportunities for maximizing returns. Whether longing or shorting Bitcoin Cash, or simply hedging against volatility in other assets, traders can receive incentives for participating in the market. This makes BCH Bull an attractive destination for those seeking capital efficiency, as traders can offset costs or even turn a profit simply by taking positions. For real-time tracking of BCH Bull premiums, interested investors can visit the official website . The growing Bitcoin Cash ecosystem and community Beyond BCH Bull, the Bitcoin Cash ecosystem continues to expand with increased developer activity, new applications, and a vibrant community. BCH Bull is not only pushing the boundaries of DeFi on Bitcoin Cash but also actively supporting the broader crypto movement by sponsoring global blockchain events. One of the upcoming highlights is BCH Bliss 2025, set to take place in Ljubljana, Slovenia. This event will bring together Bitcoin Cash developers, and enthusiasts to discuss the future of decentralized finance and peer-to-peer cash. As BCH Bull continues to support such initiatives, it strengthens both its brand and the wider adoption of Bitcoin Cash in the DeFi landscape. Conclusion For DeFi traders seeking an alternative to congested, high-fee networks, BCH Bull offers a compelling proposition: a fast, cost-effective, and battle-tested trading platform that rewards users through unique premiums. With two years of solid performance, thousands of successfully completed contracts, and a growing community, BCH Bull is leading the charge for DeFi on Bitcoin Cash. Read more: Chart of the week: Bitcoin Cash eyes double-digit rally, bullish indicators point to gains in BCH Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. crypto.news does not endorse any product mentioned on this page. Users must do their own research before taking any actions related to the company.

Read more

Unveiling the Truth: Is Manus AI Really China’s Next DeepSeek Moment?

The cryptocurrency world is always on the lookout for groundbreaking technologies, and the recent buzz around Manus AI has been deafening. Touted as an “agentic” AI platform from China, Manus arrived with a bang, drawing comparisons to DeepSeek and sparking massive hype. But is this excitement justified, or is it another case of AI promises outpacing reality? Let’s dive into the claims, the criticisms, and the user experiences to uncover the truth behind the Manus AI phenomenon. Decoding the Hype: What is Manus AI and Why the Frenzy? Manus AI emerged from stealth mode, creating a whirlwind of excitement. Imagine invite codes selling for thousands of dollars and a Discord server exploding to over 138,000 members in mere days – that’s the level of frenzy Manus generated. Industry experts and AI researchers fueled the flames, with some calling it the “most impressive AI tool” and “most sophisticated computer using AI.” Chinese media quickly jumped on the bandwagon, portraying Manus as a national triumph. But what exactly is causing this unprecedented AI hype ? Exclusivity and Scarcity: Limited invites created an air of exclusivity, driving up demand and speculation. Bold Claims: Monica, the startup behind Manus, showcased ambitious capabilities, from real estate transactions to video game programming, painting a picture of a revolutionary AI agent. Influencer Amplification: Social media influencers and Chinese media outlets heavily promoted Manus, sometimes exaggerating its capabilities and drawing comparisons to established players like DeepSeek. “Agentic” AI Narrative: The promise of a truly autonomous agent that bridges “conception and execution” resonated deeply in the tech community, hungry for the next leap in AI evolution. Manus AI vs. DeepSeek: A Fair Comparison? The comparisons between Manus AI and DeepSeek, a well-regarded Chinese AI company, were quickly drawn. However, are these comparisons valid? Here’s a breakdown: Feature Manus AI DeepSeek Model Development Utilizes existing models like Claude and Qwen Develops in-house AI models Technology Availability Early access, limited public information Made technologies openly available Claims Agentic AI, autonomous task execution, broad application Focus on deep learning models and research Current Stage Early preview, scaling and issue fixing Established AI company with released products As the table indicates, while both are Chinese AI initiatives, they operate on different foundations and at different stages of maturity. DeepSeek has a proven track record of developing and releasing AI technologies, whereas Manus AI is still in its early stages, relying on existing models and facing scrutiny regarding its actual capabilities. Early User Experiences: Reality Check for Agentic AI Despite the initial agentic AI hype, early user experiences paint a less rosy picture. Several users, including AI startup founders and tech enthusiasts, have reported significant issues: Error Messages and Crashes: Users encountered frequent error messages and platform crashes, even for simple tasks. Inconsistent Performance: Manus struggled with basic tasks like ordering food or booking flights, often failing to complete the process or providing broken links. Factual Inaccuracies and Citations: Concerns were raised about Manus making factual errors, lacking consistent citations, and missing easily accessible information online. Benchmark Discrepancies: While Manus claimed outperforming Deep Research on the GAIA benchmark, real-world usage revealed limitations and failures in task completion. Long Task Completion Times: Some users reported excessive processing times, even for tasks that should be relatively quick for an “agentic” AI. These firsthand accounts suggest that while Manus AI might have impressive underlying technology, its practical application and reliability are still works in progress. The gap between the promised capabilities and the actual user experience appears significant at this stage. Is Manus AI Overhyped? The Verdict Based on early evidence, it’s reasonable to conclude that the initial Manus AI hype may be exceeding its current technological capabilities. While the platform demonstrates potential in research and report generation, its claims of autonomous task execution across diverse domains seem premature. The platform’s reliance on existing models and reported inconsistencies raise questions about its originality and true “breakthrough” status. It’s crucial to remember that Manus AI is in early access, and the company acknowledges ongoing efforts to improve scalability and address issues. However, for cryptocurrency enthusiasts and tech innovators seeking immediate, reliable AI solutions, Manus AI in its current form might not be the revolutionary agent it’s been portrayed to be. The true test will be in its evolution, its ability to overcome current limitations, and whether it can ultimately live up to the lofty expectations set by its initial launch. Key Takeaways: Navigating the AI Hype Cycle The Manus AI situation offers valuable lessons for navigating the often-turbulent waters of AI hype, especially relevant in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency and blockchain: Critical Evaluation is Key: Don’t be swayed by initial hype. Look for independent reviews, user experiences, and technical details before forming an opinion. Distinguish Promise from Reality: Separate marketing claims from demonstrable capabilities. Early access platforms are often works in progress. Compare Fairly: When comparing new technologies to established ones, consider the stage of development, underlying technology, and proven track record. Focus on Practical Utility: Evaluate AI tools based on their real-world usability and reliability, not just on theoretical potential. Long-Term Perspective: AI development is an ongoing process. Be patient and track the evolution of technologies over time rather than jumping to conclusions based on initial buzz. In conclusion, while Manus AI has generated significant buzz and excitement, it’s essential to approach it with a healthy dose of skepticism. It may indeed evolve into a powerful China AI agent in the future, but for now, the reality seems to be catching up with the hype. The crypto community, known for its discerning eye for innovation, should continue to watch Manus AI’s development closely, but perhaps temper expectations until its promises translate into consistent, reliable performance. To learn more about the latest agentic AI trends, explore our articles on key developments shaping AI features and institutional adoption.

Read more

Here’s what happened in crypto today

Today in crypto, cryptocurrency exchange-traded products (ETPs) recorded a fourth straight week of outflows, with $876 million in losses during the past trading week, Utah’s senate has passed a Bitcoin bill without the Bitcoin reserve provision, and Changpeng “CZ” Zhao asked Elon Musk to ban automated bots on X. Crypto ETPs see fourth straight week of outflows, totaling $876 million After posting record weekly outflows of $2.9 billion last week, crypto ETPs continued their downward trend, bringing the four-week total outflows to $4.75 billion , CoinShares reported on March 10. While the pace of outflows slowed, investor sentiment remained bearish, according to James Butterfill, head of research at CoinShares. The analyst also suggested that the market has shown signs of capitulation. Bitcoin ( BTC ) ETPs were the primary driver of outflows, accounting for $756 million, or 85% of last week’s total. Short-Bitcoin ETPs also saw outflows of $19.8 million, the most since December 2024. With cumulative outflows reaching $4.75 billion over the past four weeks, the year-to-date inflows dropped to $2.6 billion. Weekly crypto ETP flows since late 2024. Source: CoinShares Total assets under management (AUM) declined by $39 billion to $142 billion, the lowest point since mid-November 2024, driven by both negative price movements and sustained outflows, Butterfill noted. This bearish sentiment was also observed among a wide range of altcoins last week, with Ether ( ETH ) ETPs seeing $89 million of outflows. Tron ( TRX ) and Aave ( AAVE ) were also among the most notable ETP losers, seeing $32 million and $2.4 million in outflows, respectively, according to the report. Utah’s Senate passes Bitcoin bill — but scraps key provision Utah’s Bitcoin ( BTC ) bill has passed the state Senate , but without a cornerstone clause that would have made it the first US state with its own Bitcoin reserve. The HB230 “Blockchain and Digital Innovation Amendments” bill now only provides Utah citizens with basic custody protections, the right to mine Bitcoin, run a node and participate in staking, among other things. The bill is now headed to Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s desk to be signed into law. Utah Senator Kirk A. Cullimore confirmed HB230’s amendment to scrap the reserve clause. Source: Utah State Legislature The reserve clause would have authorized Utah’s treasurer to invest up to 5% of digital assets with a market cap above $500 billion over the last calendar year in five state accounts. It was scrapped in the third and final reading. “There was a lot of concern with those provisions and the early adoption of these types of policies,” one of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Kirk A. Cullimore, said in Utah’s March 7 floor session. “All of that has been stripped out of the bill.” CZ asks Elon Musk to get rid of automated bots on X Binance co-founder CZ asked Elon Musk to ban automated bots on X — a problem that the crypto community has grappled with for years now. "I think X should ban all bots. I only want to interact with humans here — not 'automated,'" CZ wrote in a March 9 X post. Automated bots amplify messages by liking or retweeting posts and can even comment on posts, which is often done in a coordinated fashion by an individual or teams running bot farms. Source: CZ These automated bots often pose as crypto influencers or executives from the digital asset industry to peddle fake tokens, fraudulent airdrop scams, and promote phishing links designed to steal funds from unsuspecting users. A 2023 study from the Network Contagion Research Institute also found that coordinated bot attacks were used to manipulate crypto prices.

Read more

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade on Sepolia faces disruptions, unknown attacker mines empty blocks

Ethereum’s highly anticipated Pectra upgrade encountered disruptions on the Sepolia testnet following an exploit that led to empty block mining. The upgrade, which was deployed on March 5, ran into issues a few hours later when developers noticed error messages on their geth node. According to a detailed report from Ethereum developer Marius van der Wijden, the team discovered an unexpected behavior in the deposit contract that occurred on the testnet at around 7:30 UTC last Wednesday. Instead of triggering the expected deposit event, the contract emitted an incorrect transfer event. “ Shortly after the hard fork was activated, we told Jim McDonald to send a deposit to test the execution-triggered withdrawal functionality added in Pectra. We then saw error messages on our geth node and started seeing a lot of empty blocks being mined ,” van der Wijden explained. The error message reportedly read, “unable to parse deposit data: deposit wrong length: want 576, have 32.” This meant an unexpected deposit contract token-gated ERC-20 transfer was executed, disrupting the chain’s expected behavior. Unknown attacker exploits a missed edge case Wijden said that developers moved quickly to deploy a fix, but an overlooked edge case allowed an unknown attacker to take advantage of the system. The exploiter sent a zero-token transfer to the deposit address and managed to trigger the same error again, leading to continued empty block mining. “ We checked the deposit contract and verified that no one could trigger the deposit functionality (because it is token gated and we only gave out tokens to trusted parties for Sepolia). We missed one edge case in the ERC20 spec, though ,” the developer remarked. Initially, developers had suspected the mistake came from a trusted validator , but later realized the transaction originated from a new account funded through a faucet. Ethereum’s team then moved to coordinate the fix rollout without splitting the chain. Wijden said that a hasty release could have caused network fragmentation because nodes that weren’t updated would not have been able to connect to the fixed chain. After averting the crisis, they planned a joint rollout for 14:00 UTC, which gave the teams time to get ready. Developers found the flaw after additional investigation: the ERC-20 standard does not ban transfers of zero tokens. It means that anyone, no matter how many tokens they had, could send a move of zero tokens. This is what caused the deposit event. Three and a half hours before the coordinated fix, as the developer described, Sepolia had supposedly produced “a lot of” empty blocks. To restore normal operations in the meantime, developers removed the transactions triggering the exploit by replacing them with higher-paying ones. Developers deployed a private fix to contain the attack Ethereum’s team implemented a private fix that filtered out transactions interacting with the deposit contract. Given suspicions that the attacker was monitoring developer chats, they decided against publicizing the fix immediately. “ The fix is only filtering out transactions that directly call the deposit contract. If we publicized the fix, the attacker would’ve been able to circumvent our mitigation by calling the contract from another contract. These internal calls would still trigger the event, but they wouldn’t be easy to filter out during block creation ,” Wijden reported . Once roughly 10% of the network’s nodes were updated, full blocks began appearing again. This allowed the chain to function while the full patch was prepared for deployment. At 14:00 UTC, all nodes updated to the new release containing the final fix. A few blocks later, the attacker’s transaction was successfully mined, confirming that all node operators had implemented the patch. The incident did not affect Ethereum’s mainnet, as the issue was specific to Sepolia’s token-gated deposit contract. It did affect all nodes, since it was a clash between the specification and the implementation of the deposit contract on Sepolia — MariusVanDerWijden (@vdWijden) March 9, 2025 When asked by an X social media user if the “attacker had anything to win” by exploiting the testnet issue, Wijden answered, “ No, they didn’t have anything to gain from it .” Ethereum price struggles continue: Market activity is weaker Ethereum is still showing signs of weakness, shedding over 10% of its value in the last week. The second-largest coin by market cap has been hovering around the $2,000 mark, a three-month low support level that market watchers predict will drop even lower. According to market technical indicators, ETH is in a continued downtrend, with lower highs and lows forming alongside bearish moving averages. If Ethereum fails to hold $2,000, analysts warn that the next major support levels lie between $1,800 and $1,700. Although the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 30.45 suggests a potential short-term bounce, resistance at $2,200 is a level the coin has failed to breach for over 24 hours. Cryptopolitan Academy: Tired of market swings? Learn how DeFi can help you build steady passive income. Register Now

Read more

Utah Senate Approves Crypto Bill, Drops Bitcoin Reserve

A bill aimed at shaping Utah’s approach to digital assets has cleared the state Senate , though a major provision allowing the state to hold Bitcoin BTC was removed before final approval.

Read more