Ghostblade is one of six malware tools in the "DarkSword" suite of malicious software designed to steal crypto private keys and user data. Google Threat Intelligence has identified a new form of crypto-stealing malware called “Ghostblade” that affects Apple iOS devices and is part of the “DarkSword” suite of browser-based malware tools designed to steal private keys and other sensitive information. Ghostblade is written in JavaScript and designed for rapid data theft. The crypto-stealing malware activates, grabs sensitive data from the compromised device, and relays it to malicious servers, according to Google Threat Intelligence. The Ghostblade malware does not run 24/7 on the compromised device, does not require extra plug-ins to function, and stops functioning after extracting data, making it more difficult to detect, the threat researchers said. Read more
Nearly three-quarters of institutional investors plan to increase their digital asset allocations this year, with Bitcoin, Ether, stablecoins and tokenized assets seeing the most interest. Institutional demand for crypto is holding up despite ongoing turbulence, with new data showing large investors are preparing to increase allocations even after the market’s sharp sell-off since October. At the same time, stablecoins are gaining traction across both retail and institutional channels. Japan is moving ahead with regulated USDC (USDC) lending products, while new models tied to real-world assets are beginning to take shape. Elsewhere, crypto companies continue to tap traditional capital markets, with Abra pursuing a public listing via a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) deal. Read more
Ledger names John Andrews as chief financial officer and opens a New York office to expand its US operations and institutional business. Crypto hardware provider Ledger has appointed former Circle executive John Andrews as chief financial officer and opened a New York office as part of its US expansion. Andrews previously led capital markets and investor relations at Circle. According to Friday’s announcement, the New York office is part of a multi-million-dollar investment in Ledger’s US operations and will create dozens of roles across enterprise and marketing teams. It will serve as a hub for the company’s institutional business, including its Ledger Enterprise platform, which provides custody and governance tools for digital assets. The expansion comes as the company says demand is growing from banks, asset managers, custodians and stablecoin issuers seeking secure digital asset infrastructure. Read more