Everything web3, crypto, defi, degen
In brief Shengsheng He was sentenced to 51 months for laundering nearly $37M stolen in a crypto investment scam. The funds were moved through a Bahamas-based shell company, converted to crypto, and sent to scammer wallets. The case is part of a wider DOJ crackdown on global crypto fraud and online money laundering. Shengsheng He,…
In brief Two new research papers show how AI agents can be engineered with fixed psychological archetypes or evolve emotional strategies during conversations. Emotion boosts performance: personality priming improves consistency and believability, while adaptive emotions measurably increase negotiation success. Advocates see more natural human–AI interactions, but critics warn of manipulation and blurred accountability as agents…
In brief GK8 researchers have discovered threat actors recruiting professional voice impersonators on underground forums to target U.S. crypto executives. The personalized “vishing” campaigns make operatives up to $20,000 monthly. Attackers possess curated datasets of executive personal information and use deepfake technology, voice changers, and sophisticated infrastructure to bypass traditional security measures. Cybercriminals are recruiting…
In brief OpenAI built GPT-4b micro, a downsized model specialized for protein engineering, in collaboration with longevity startup Retro Biosciences. The model designed new variants of the Yamanaka factors, proteins used to reprogram adult cells into stem cells, achieving 50-fold higher efficiency in lab tests. Researchers say the results show how AI could accelerate life…
In brief An investor lost 783 Bitcoin—$91 million worth a the time—to a social engineering scam, according to on-chain sleuth ZachXBT. The threat actor allegedly used a coin-mixing service to try to cover their tracks. ZachXBT alleged that three individuals used similar tactics to steal $243 million worth of Bitcoin a year ago. A crypto…
In brief XRP Ledger received a security score of 41 out of 100—the lowest among 15 major blockchains—in Kaiko’s Blockchain Ecosystem report released in August. A RippleX leader dismissed the low rating, pointing to XRP Ledger’s strong safety record. XRP Ledger’s software development kit was hit with a supply chain attack in April, but devs…
In brief North Wales Police are investigating a $2.8 million (£2.1 million) Bitcoin theft in which a cybercriminal posed as a senior detective. The scammer claimed that the victim’s personal details had been found on the phone of someone recently arrested, before pressuring them to “secure their funds” via a phishing link. The force noted…
We’re excited to announce the acquisition of the assets and technology of Capitalise.ai, an Israel-based pioneer of no-code, natural-language trading automation. Founded in 2015, Capitalise.ai developed a natural-language platform that transforms everyday text into executable trading strategies. Its proprietary language model and big data infrastructure can ingest real-time and historical data across equities, crypto, FX,…
In brief Following July’s Hitler-praising fiasco and an August suspension over Gaza comments, Grok now flags innocuous objects like sunsets and potatoes as coded hate. Users post memes of Grok calling clouds, puppy photos, and even geometric shapes antisemitic, complete with confident “expert” explanations. This situation is an example of why alignment and super alignment…
In brief FTX investors have filed a lawsuit against Silicon Valley law firm Fenwick & West, accusing it of being “deeply intertwined” in the crypto exchange’s collapse. Of 130 firms that worked with FTX named in multidistrict litigation, Fenwick & West is the only one accused of having actual knowledge of FTX’s scheme and providing…
