Microsoft flags crypto malware

March 20, 2025

Reading time: 5 minutes

Microsoft flags new crypto wallet threat as StilachiRAT malware hits Chrome extensions

Key points:

  • Microsoft warns of StilachiRAT malware targeting crypto wallets via Chrome extensions.

  • Phantom, MetaMask, and Coinbase are among 20 wallets identified as vulnerable.

  • Bybit’s $1.5B breach highlights rising crypto hacks, with $3B stolen in 2024.

News - Microsoft has issued a warning about a newly identified security threat targeting cryptocurrency wallets accessed through Google Chrome extensions. The malware, known as ‘StilachiRAT,’ grants remote access to infected devices, allowing attackers to scan and steal sensitive credentials, including private keys and digital wallets. With at least 20 wallets at risk, this emerging threat has created a lot of commotion in the crypto space.

Wallets that are a threat - Several popular crypto wallets, including Phantom, Bitget, Trust, MetaMask, BNB Chain, OKX, Sui, and Coinbase, have been identified as vulnerable to the StilachiRAT malware. While Microsoft reports that the malware’s reach remains limited, its stealthy nature raises concerns for wallet security. Acknowledging the threat, Solana-based Phantom Wallet has urged users to take extra precautions, such as using password managers, updating antivirus software, and avoiding copy-pasting private keys to safeguard their assets.

Crypto losses reported - Bybit’s recent $1.5 billion security breach underscores the growing threat of crypto hacks, which have accounted for 70% of total losses this past year, according to PeckShield. With over $3 billion in crypto stolen in 2024 and less than $500 million recovered, the data highlights the urgent need for proactive security measures. As recovery efforts remain uncertain, strengthening cybersecurity defenses and adopting preventive strategies is crucial to mitigating future losses.

Yakovenko apologizes as Solana faces heat over Ad criticized for marginalizing the trans community

Key points:

  • Solana CEO Yakovenko admitted the ad was a misstep and apologized for its impact.

  • The controversial ad clashed with Solana’s inclusivity message, sparking community backlash.

  • Transgender individuals make significant contributions to open-source and crypto development.

News - Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko has finally addressed the controversy surrounding the “America Is Back — Time to Accelerate” advertisement, which sparked intense debate for its mix of patriotism, technology, and political messaging on gender identity. Taking to X on March 19, Yakovenko admitted that the ad was a misstep, stating it continues to weigh heavily on him.

He said,

“I am ashamed I downplayed it instead of just calling it what it is - mean and punching down on a marginalized group.”

What’s happening? - Yakovenko also commended the Solana community for speaking out against the controversial advertisement, which was removed after amassing over a million views and significant backlash. Acknowledging the misstep, he emphasized his commitment to keeping Solana focused on open-source development and decentralization while steering clear of cultural debates.

Although Solana has not issued an official statement, its X account reshared Yakovenko’s response. The now-deleted ad, promoting the Solana Accelerate conference, featured politically charged dialogue, clashing with Solana’s previous messaging of inclusivity, further fueling criticism.

Contribution by transgenders - Amid the controversy, Cinneamhain Ventures partner Adam Cochran highlighted the significant contributions of transgender individuals to open-source software and cryptography, far exceeding their population share.

A 2017 GitHub survey found that 1% of open-source developers identified as transgender, with another 1% identifying as non-binary—figures notably higher than their estimated 0.1% to 0.6% representation in the general population. These statistics reinforce the vital role of inclusivity in tech and crypto.

Trump to make history at digital asset Summit with first Presidential speech on Bitcoin

Key points:

  • Trump becomes the first sitting U.S. president to speak at a crypto conference.

  • His administration pushes Bitcoin integration into national reserves and financial strategy.

  • The summit highlights institutional adoption, regulatory shifts, and crypto’s role in U.S. policy.

News - In a historic move, President Donald Trump is set to speak at Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit (DAS) in New York City on March 20, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president has addressed a Bitcoin and cryptocurrency conference. This appearance comes shortly after his executive order establishing the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

Trump’s upcoming speech: What to expect? - While Trump previously addressed a Bitcoin conference during his campaign, this marks his first appearance at a major crypto industry event as president. The summit will explore institutional Bitcoin adoption, evolving regulations, and the broader crypto market’s future.

What's next? - With the recent launch of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and ongoing discussions around stablecoin legislation, his administration is positioning crypto as a key element of national financial strategy.

Lawmakers are already exploring plans to expand Bitcoin holdings, while industry leaders at the summit, including Michael Saylor and BlackRock’s Robbie Mitchnick, are shaping the conversation on institutional adoption. As regulatory developments unfold, the event highlights the growing alignment between digital assets and mainstream financial policy.

Ripple CEO hints at XRP’s integration into the government’s digital asset stockpile

Key points:

  • XRP joins the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, signaling growing government recognition.

  • XRP ETFs are expected by late 2025, with rising institutional interest and global inflows.

  • XRP market surges, but leveraged positions increase liquidation risks.

News - As the legal battle between Ripple and the SEC nears its conclusion, optimism is growing within the XRP community. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has revealed that XRP will be included in the White House Digital Asset Stockpile, signaling a potential shift in governmental recognition of the cryptocurrency.

Garlinghouse weighs in - Garlinghouse remains confident that XRP will be part of the U.S. Digital Asset Stockpile, despite its absence from the official executive order. He pointed to President Trump’s prior mention of XRP on Truth Social and his participation in the White House Crypto Summit as strong indicators of its potential inclusion. Addressing concerns about how the U.S. will acquire XRP, Garlinghouse suggested that confiscated assets could make up a significant portion of the government’s holdings.

The current status of XRP ETFs - As regulatory clarity around XRP strengthens, anticipation is building for the potential approval of XRP ETFs in the U.S. by late 2025. Ripple's CEO remains optimistic, highlighting the success of XRP-based investment products outside the U.S. and their growing inflows.

“I have immense confidence in the ETFs. I think those will be live in the second half of the year.”

Meanwhile, XRP’s market momentum continues to surge, with trading volumes skyrocketing and prices seeing double-digit gains. However, the spike in leveraged long positions has introduced liquidation risks, adding volatility to the asset’s trajectory.

Interesting facts

  • The Vatican Apostolic Library is leveraging blockchain and Web3 to safeguard and share its historic manuscripts. In the middle of 2024, it began tokenizing 21 ancient texts as NFTs, ensuring authenticity, secure access, and verifiable provenance in the digital world.

  • CaskCoin is a cryptocurrency backed by rare Scottish whiskey barrels, giving investors tangible asset ownership. Launched in 2018, CaskCoin is backed by rare Scottish whiskey barrels, giving investors fractional ownership tied to cask values ensuring verifiable ownership and provenance of the whiskey assets.

  • In 2013, a 35-year-old coder made waves by purchasing a 2015 Lamborghini Huracán with just 45 Bitcoin. Having bought the BTC for less than $115, he was able to cash them in for the $200,000 supercar. While the purchase showcased Bitcoin’s real-world potential at the time, those 45 BTC would be worth millions today.

Top 3 coins of the day

Uniswap (UNI)

Key points:

  • At press time, UNI was trading at $6.74, marking a 13.31% increase over the past week.

  • However, despite the recent bullish momentum, technical indicators suggest a shift toward bearish sentiment.

What you should know:

After days of volatility, the crypto market is showing signs of stabilization with a bullish trend. UNI, reflecting the broader market sentiment, was trading in the green at $6.74, marking a 3.75% increase in the past 24 hours. However, despite the price hike, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) remained below the neutral level at 44.13, indicating that sellers still outweigh buyers. For UNI to sustain its bullish momentum, it must break past the resistance at $7.27. However, if sellers continue to dominate, the altcoin could slip below the support level of $6.23.

Solana (SOL)

Key points:

  • At press time, SOL was trading at $130.66, marking a 3.68% gain over the past week.

  • Technical indicators suggest that the altcoin could maintain its bullish momentum for some time.

What you should know:

SOL remained in the bullish zone, trading at $130.66 after a 2.23% increase in the past 24 hours. The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator, positioned above the neutral level, confirmed the bullish momentum. However, its downward movement suggested a possible shift toward bearish territory. Meanwhile, the parallel Bollinger Bands indicated a phase of low volatility, with prices likely to stay within the bands, acting as support and resistance levels. For SOL to sustain its bullish trend, buying pressure must outweigh selling pressure. A breakout above $140.02 could strengthen the uptrend, while failure to do so might lead to a drop below the $120.91 support level.

Polkadot (DOT)

Key points:

  • At press time, DOT was trading at $4.40, marking a 9.02% surge in the past 24 hours.

  • Despite a recent pullback, technical indicators signaled strengthening bullish momentum, suggesting the uptrend could continue.

What you should know:

While the broader market, including most altcoins, remained in a bullish phase, Polkadot (DOT) stood out as an exception, trading in the red at $4.40 after a 3.11% decline in the past 24 hours. However, despite the dip, the MACD indicator remained above the signal line, with green histograms confirming that bulls are still in control. This suggests that the price drop is likely a short-term pullback rather than a trend reversal. If DOT maintains its strength, it could soon recover, trade in the green, and break past the $4.59 resistance level.

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