CoinDesk’s Tech team brings you the latest updates on cryptocurrency tech development in this week’s edition of The Protocol.
MetaMask, Ethereum network’s most widely used browser wallet, has announced that its integration with the Solana network is now live. This development allows users to transact on the second-largest smart-contract platform and interact with Solana-based applications. Although the integration is currently available only on desktop, MetaMask plans to launch it on its mobile app in the coming weeks.
In other news, a self-spreading malware has been discovered in privacy crypto Dero. The Linux malware campaign compromises unsecured Docker infrastructure worldwide, creating a decentralized cryptojacking network that mines Dero. According to cybersecurity firm Kaspersky, the attack begins by exploiting publicly exposed Docker APIs, leading to the infection of already-running containers and the utilization of system resources for mining Dero.
In a significant development, FIFA, the global governing body of football, has announced a collaboration with Avalanche to build its own dedicated layer-1 blockchain, known as the FIFA Blockchain, using Avalanche’s technology. This is not FIFA’s first venture into the world of blockchain and crypto. Last year, FIFA released a non-fungible token (NFT) collection on the Algorand blockchain ahead of the Qatar World Cup.
Square, Jack Dorsey’s company, is taking Bitcoin payments a step further with a pilot program at the Bitcoin 2025 conference. The program enables attendees to make purchases with Bitcoin by scanning a barcode, with payments settled in near real-time via the Lighting Network. Square aims to make this feature available to a wider audience later this year and to all customers by 2026, subject to regulatory approval.
In other Bitcoin news, despite a surge in Wall Street tech stocks, Bitcoin’s upward trend shows signs of weakness, trading near $108,900. A downside break of a trendline indicating the uptrend from early April lows could signal a potential reversal and the start of a downward move.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has initiated a review of the WisdomTree XRP Trust, a proposed spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) offering exposure to XRP. If approved, it would be the first spot XRP ETF in the U.S., a significant milestone for the crypto industry.
In regulatory news, the U.S. Senate is inching closer to passing the GENIUS Act, a landmark stablecoin bill. Despite opposition from some quarters, the bill easily cleared the 60-vote threshold required to enter its last discussion phase.
Lastly, an individual suspected of involvement in the kidnapping and torture of an Italian cryptocurrency investor in a Manhattan townhouse has surrendered to New York City police, marking another chapter in this ongoing investigation.
Stay tuned to The Protocol for more updates on cryptocurrency tech development.
