Latest news with #blockchain
Associated Press
13 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Hacken & QANplatform Launch AI-Powered Threat Modeling Tool
Tallinn, Estonia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 29, 2025) - Hacken, a leading web3 security audit firm, and QANplatform, a quantum-resistant blockchain platform, today announced the release of a new open-source AI-powered blockchain threat modeling tool. The open-source AI tool can be customized by developers even for very complex web3 projects to enhance the speed and depth of security audits, initially proven effective in auditing QANplatform's unique QAN Virtual Machine (QVM) which allows developers to build smart contracts in any programming language on the blockchain. The open-source AI tool emerges in the era where established cybersecurity players are leveraging AI for generating security libraries like the OAuth 2.1 provider framework for authentication. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] Hacken & QANplatform Launch AI-Powered Threat Modeling Tool To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: The open-source AI tool is compatible with any AI model, including DeepSeek, Kimi K2, ChatGPT o3, and Claude Opus/Sonnet 4, etc. It can be run locally, offering flexibility for developers. The AI-powered blockchain threat modeling tool helps developers and auditors thoroughly discover the audit scope, plan threat/attack scenarios, write test cases, and execute tests. This enables audit scopes previously impossible or infeasible with human resources alone besides unlocking insights previously unattainable or impractical to achieve manually. The AI-powered blockchain threat modeling tool was born from a real-world challenge by auditing the revolutionary multi-language QVM of QANplatform. VMs serve as the engines behind blockchain operations enabling the execution of smart contracts. QANplatform's breakthrough is developing a VM capable of running smart contracts written in any programming language without restricting developers' freedom, unlike existing blockchain platforms, which can only run smart contracts written in 1-2 programming languages. During the QVM audit the AI tool helped draft plausible attack scenarios and evaluated over 2800 test cases uncovering 22 potential issues. Manual audits of this scale could take years and potentially miss critical edge cases. The tool provides automated tests to aid security-conscious development ultimately building more secure and reliable web3 applications. Dyma Budorin, Co-Founder and CEO of Hacken said: 'Hacken's custom-built AI agent was tailored specifically for QAN and delivered outstanding results. Our deep expertise in AI-driven offensive security allowed us to accelerate the audit while increasing its depth. This isn't a replacement for traditional audits but a powerful upgrade. We welcome QAN's decision to make it open source, as it gives the Web3 community a real-world example of how new technology can enhance security.' Bartosz Barwikowski, Lead Auditor at Hacken added: 'It was exciting and refreshing to audit such a revolutionary technology as QANplatform's QVM, an X86_64-based deterministic runtime and work on an AI tool which could successfully broaden the audit angles of such a complex technology.' Johann Polecsak, Co-Founder and CTO of QANplatform, stated: 'It is always a pleasure working with the team of Hacken. They will never settle for anything but the best tools and methodology for the scope, and if it doesn't exist they will build one! We are proud of the successful QVM audit and excited to release the open-source AI tool together and follow QANplatform's mission: Empowering anyone to build rapidly and securely on the blockchain.' Experiment with the open-source AI tool today available on Hacken's GitHub: About Hacken: Hacken is an end-to-end blockchain security & compliance partner for digital assets. Unlike traditional providers, Hacken was born on blockchain, combining deep Web3 expertise with enterprise-grade quality, AI-powered offensive security, and globally recognized certifications. Since 2017, Hacken has been trusted by 1,500 adopters, including the European Commission, ADGM, MetaMask, Ethereum Foundation, and Binance to secure the new digital frontier. As an ISO-certified auditor, Hacken brings blockchain-native expertise and proven credibility to help organizations protect their infrastructure and confidently meet modern digital asset regulations. About QANplatform: QANplatform is a blockchain platform that provides unparalleled time to market for Web3 development. It serves startups, SMEs, enterprises, and large government infrastructure projects with quantum-resistant security. QAN's flagship product is a revolutionary quantum-resistant hybrid blockchain platform with smart contract functionality. It is the first to introduce technology that allows developers to build use cases in any programming language on the blockchain. QANplatform is a member of the Linux Foundation and one of the first 20 members of the Linux Foundation's Post-Quantum Cryptography Alliance (PQCA). The first EU country implemented QAN's quantum-resistant technology in 2024. Visit for more information. Contact information: Jevgenia KIM [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Associated Press
13 hours ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Vameon Unleashes dEmpire of Vampire: A Cutting-Edge PvP Mobile Web3 Game Poised to Redefine GameFi
SINGAPORE, SG / ACCESS Newswire / July 29, 2025 / Vameon, a leading blockchain game development studio, today announced the full launch of dEmpire of Vampire, an innovative 3D mobile RPG set in a dark fantasy world with a strong emphasis on PvP gameplay. This launch marks a pivotal moment in the GameFi sector, offering a sustainable and player-centric model that directly addresses the widespread challenges and failures that have plagued the industry. The GameFi sector has faced significant challenges in recent years. Initially propelled by the hype surrounding NFTs and Play-to-Earn (P2E) mechanics, the industry has since experienced a downturn, with approximately 93% of GameFi projects having failed and an average project lifespan of only four months. These failures have been attributed to short-term thinking, unsustainable economic models, and rushed product releases that did not prioritize gameplay quality or user experience. 'We've observed how GameFi struggled because it attempted to forcibly combine two incompatible value systems: the pleasure of gaming and financial gain,' said Alex, cofounder of Vameon. 'Many P2E projects failed because they prioritized earning over gameplay. With dEmpire of Vampire, we aim to shift this paradigm by creating a game that people want to play for enjoyment first, and then offering sustainable and optional Web3 opportunities.' dEmpire of Vampire: A New Era of Sustainable GameFi Vameon enters this market not as a new entrant, but as a developer keenly aware of these pitfalls. dEmpire of Vampire, originally launched in 2023, adopted a phased development approach that included the introduction of its $VON token in December 2024. The game is now fully available on both the App Store and Google Play. This release is designed to set a new precedent in GameFi, focusing on longevity and utility, alongside accessible and engaging gameplay across both Web2 and Web3 platforms. The development and launch of dEmpire of Vampire have been proudly supported by BNB Chain, further solidifying its position within the Web3 ecosystem. A core component of dEmpire of Vampire is its approach to Web3 integration. Unlike earlier GameFi projects that required users to interact directly with blockchain technology, Vameon has made these features optional. This includes the use of a free NFT character associated with each account, allowing players to experience digital ownership without upfront costs or the need for specialized knowledge. This strategy aligns with broader trends such as 'invisible wallets' that simplify Web3 user experiences. The game's economic model also diverges from its predecessors. Players earn the native $VON token through in-game achievements, with anti-inflationary measures in place to preserve token value. These include a dual-budget reserve and a structured buyback mechanism designed to provide stability during periods of high reward redemptions. Additionally, revenue from traditional in-app purchases, such as premium character packs, supports the Play-to-Earn economy, establishing a hybrid monetization model that aims to balance sustainability with engagement. This approach seeks to mitigate the issues that led to the failure of many earlier GameFi projects, where token economies often collapsed due to speculative overreach and insufficient economic safeguards. According to recent industry reports, while overall investment in GameFi dropped by 71% in Q1 2025 compared to Q4 2024, the number of deals increased by 35%, and daily unique active wallets surpassed 7 million in January 2025-a 386% year-over-year rise. These figures suggest that while the market is contracting in terms of project volume, user engagement remains robust for high-quality offerings. dEmpire of Vampire features a dark fantasy setting, optimized performance for a broad range of mobile devices, and gameplay that allows players to progress through gothic-themed challenges. The design targets both Web3 users and the broader Web2 gaming audience by reducing the complexity often associated with blockchain-based games. The game also incorporates exciting PvP mechanics, offering players a competitive and engaging experience. Vameon has indicated that the game is part of a larger strategic roadmap. Future updates planned through Q2 2025 include an in-game marketplace, expanded utility for the $VON token, and additional game content. This roadmap is intended to support long-term player retention and further integrate economic mechanisms that reinforce stability and value. The development of dEmpire of Vampire reflects a shift in the GameFi sector toward more measured and sustainable project design. As the market evolves, projects that can demonstrate tangible value, user-centric design, and robust economic structures are expected to play a central role in the sector's maturation. About Vameon Vameon is a blockchain game development studio headquartered in Dubai, UAE, with an international team of over 30 professionals. The company focuses on merging traditional gaming quality with Web3 features in a way that prioritizes accessibility and long-term sustainability. Vameon aims to redefine the GameFi landscape by emphasizing player ownership, robust token utility, and gameplay that appeals to both crypto-native users and traditional gamers. Contact: Press Relations Vameon Email: [email protected] Website: SOURCE: Vameon press release
Coin Geek
16 hours ago
- Business
- Coin Geek
Tokenized bonds have tighter spreads—what does it mean?
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... When the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) speaks, the financial world listens. Earlier in July, the BIS released a report detailing its findings on tokenized government bonds. It found that, while only $8 billion in such bonds had been issued to date, they had tighter bid-ask spreads than conventional ones. Even in these early stages, tokenization is delivering on its potential for greater efficiency in the financial system. However, the implications are far greater than increased efficiency in the bond market. Let's drill down and discover why. Why tokenized bonds have tighter spreads When it comes to bonds and other financial instruments, the spread is the difference between the bid and ask price. Typically, wider spreads mean less liquidity, higher transaction costs, and greater uncertainty. By default, tighter spreads mean the opposite. Tighter spreads are an objectively good thing from the perspective of market participants, but why would tokenized bonds lead to them? There are a few reasons: Instant settlement – Tokenized bonds on scalable blockchains settle faster. On blockchains like BSV, they can do so in near real-time. This reduces counterparty risk and the amount of time capital must be tied up to facilitate a trade. Tokenization eliminates multiple intermediaries, so it reduces both the time and costs involved in trades. Greater transparency – Scalable public blockchains allow for all trades to be executed and settled on-chain. This means every trade leaves time-stamped, immutable records. These records enable the automation of audits and compliance checks while reducing costs. Automated execution – Audits and compliance checks aren't the only things that can be automated. Coupon payments and reconciliation can also be executed via smart contracts, again reducing overheads and offering transparency that builds market confidence. Increased accessibility – Increased access to markets drives demand which in turn improves price discovery and liquidity. Tokenization opens the door to a broader range of investors, including institutions, fintechs, and even individuals. While these are all different functions, they all lead to the same thing—greater efficiency, reduced costs, and thus tighter spreads. The tokenization of everything is coming Eventually, everything will be tokenized, and the benefits will be realized across all industries. The financial industry will benefit from tokenized bonds, stocks, currencies, and contracts, but so will supply chains, manufacturing, insurance, and many others. The benefits will be the same for all—greater efficiency, transparency, and inevitably lower costs. How big can this get? McKinsey analysts estimate that as much as $1.9 trillion in value will be tokenized by 2030. This doesn't stop at paper or electronic assets; real-world assets (RWAs) like gold bars and oil barrels are also being tokenized on digital ledgers. However, for tokenization to reach its full potential, the world must come to a larger realization: everything will live on one scalable ledger. Blockchain will go the same way as the Internet In the early days of the Internet, there were many different networks: X.25, DECnet, BITNET, AppleTalk, and others. Eventually, they all hit their limitations, and the world realized that TCP/IP was the protocol to build on for an open, global network. Blockchain technology is still in its early days, but it will evolve in the same way the Internet did. Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Binance Chain, and the others are just like these early Internet networks. Right now, they're hot, and big corporations and institutions are testing them. However, slowly, some are beginning to realize their limits. In March, a report co-authored by the European Central Bank's (ECB) Director General for Market Infrastructure and Payments, Ulrich Bindseil, highlighted how permissioned blockchains are complex and public blockchains are the better option. This is a clear signal that some players within large institutions are already beginning to see the bigger picture. While many believe in a multi-chain world with various chains communicating via solutions like Chainlink or dozens of different layer two solutions settling on Ethereum, the reality is that there will only be one global chain with every transaction happening on the base layer. Why? For the same reason, at the heart of the BIS report on tokenized bond spreads is efficiency. The costs of running nodes for and operating across multiple blockchains are prohibitive, the security vulnerabilities introduced by bridges and rollups are now well understood, and the benefits of time-stamping are lost when multiple blockchains keep different records. The most scalable, low-fee blockchain will win Naturally, the tokenization of everything will require legal and regulatory compliance. In the real world, business and commerce cannot be conducted without considering the law. Yet, if multiple blockchains say different things, which one wins in a dispute? It makes no sense to have many different blockchains. When the world catches up to this reality, it will settle on the most scalable, cost-efficient blockchain that enables them to easily comply with the laws they must abide by. There's only one blockchain that fits the bill—the original Bitcoin protocol—BSV. Already scaling to one million transactions per second (TPS) with fees of fractions of a penny, and with full smart contract capability, BSV has no competition when it comes to legally compliant, enterprise-grade blockchains. Furthermore, the most scalable blockchain has a hidden edge. Every conceivable use case for blockchains, will make building on BSV the rational choice for governments, institutions, and enterprises. Watch: Tim Draper talks tokenization with Kurt Wuckert Jr. title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="">
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Roman Storm Tornado Cash Trial Explained
The Roman Storm Tornado Cash Trial Explained originally appeared on TheStreet. Tornado Cash founder Roman Storm is currently battling with the U.S. government in a heated courtroom trial to avoid decades in prison time. And unlike other high-profile crypto defendants, Storm has attracted a support from a powerful contingent, including the Ethereum Foundation and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin himself. Raising more than $3 million dollars and counting, Storm and his defense team are putting up a serious fight as they now take over the floor to present to the jury their side of the case in the second half of the trial. Coinage headed down to the New York courtroom this week to uncover what makes the trial of Roman Storm so unique — and why it's arguably the most important trial for crypto yet. First off, this isn't a case centering on simple fraud for once. It's not as clear cut as the trial of FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried, nor Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky — which prosecutors easily navigated to demonstrate to jurors those founders harmed customers. Instead, in the case of Roman Storm, the government is going after a crypto founder for the tool he built to let users protect their privacy on the blockchain. Tornado Cash was a money mixer Storm and his co-founders launched in 2019. It allowed anyone to deposit crypto from a public address, pooled those assets, and then let users withdraw on the other end to a fresh wallet without anyone being able to trace whose funds were whose. Proponents said it restored much needed privacy for transactions onchain. Critics said it was a blatant money laundering tool. That distinction might not matter if it's just a few thousand users making small-time transactions in the low double-digit figures. But when North Korea's elite hacking team the Lazarus Group started used Tornado Cash to launder some of the more than $600 million it stole in one of the largest crypto hacks of all-time? Yeah, the government started to care. The reason for that is because the U.S. has a lot of rules around who you can do business with. Particularly for financial players, they typically follow these rules because the penalties of not doing so are extreme. Not only can fines be in the billions of dollars for banks who don't block drug traffickers or other state-sanctioned actors, they could be supporting regimes the U.S. is actively working against. Perhaps it's no surprise then that the government brought this case against Storm, hitting him with a trio of charges — including conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money transferring business, and conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (the law that makes it illegal to work with America's sanctioned enemies like North Korea.) But from a use case perspective, it's hard to argue something like Tornado Cash isn't needed to protect privacy onchain. Even your credit card transactions aren't publicly broadcast to everyone around the world — and as crypto kidnappings continue to rise, it doesn't really seem safe letting everyone know exactly how much wealth you're sitting on. It's also why the idea for Tornado Cash came directly from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin himself. He and Storm chatted about the idea of privacy onchain at a conference in New York before Storm and his co-founders launched the project — and indeed since, Ethereum's future roadmap has become chock-full with upcoming privacy features. Perhaps it's obvious, then, why this case matters to so many in the Ethereum community. The reason for that is not just privacy — but also the inner workings of how the U.S. government has gone about prosecuting this case. They are going after Storm for running an unlicensed money transferring business. But, importantly, Tornado Cash as a service never technically took direct custody of users' funds. Their immutable smart contracts merely facilitated users to take these actions themselves, if they so chose. But as a crypto journalist who has seen plenty of these defenses that lean heavily on a firm understanding of a narrow reading of the law and the technology at play, I'm not sure the crypto community should be so optimistic. That is, the government usually does a very good job of making someone look guilty — and they usually don't pursue cases they think they will lose. As I sat in the courtroom this week, I saw that playing out yet again. The prosecutors read through the same conversations they highlighted in their earlier indictment. They highlighted the purposefully unsuccessful attempts by Storm and his co-founders to block North Korea's sanctioned wallet from interacting with their website's front end, only to leave access to the money mixing smart contract elsewhere completely wide open. But that's the thing about immutable smart contracts like Tornado Cash. Once built, it's very hard to stop bad actors from using it. The government's case is that Storm probably should have thought of those consequences before building Tornado Cash. Or, perhaps, should've definitely done more once he and his co-founders became aware that the overwhelming majority of activity on their tool had mostly become North Korea laundering stolen funds. But those in crypto are quick to point out that that is simply not how permissionless systems or smart contracts work. Regardless, if Storm wins his case, the 'privacy above all else' narrative may severely undermine America's ability to enforce its financial leverage on bad actors and make enforcing sanctions nearly impossible. It's also why the question posed to Roman Storm by crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett on the Crypto in America podcast was such a good one. Terrett asked Storm before the trial began point blank: 'Do you believe the right to privacy outweighs concerns about national security?' Storm answered: 'My personal beliefs I don't think matter much at this point. I only believe that developers should freely write code without consequences for misusage by third parties.' Currently Coinage Media is running an onchain DAO poll for members to have their voice heard on how they would rule in the case. As for the real trial, jurors could be asked to deliver a verdict as soon as this coming week as the trial wraps up in New York. The Roman Storm Tornado Cash Trial Explained first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
ATOM Climbs 4% Amid Bullish Momentum and Consolidation Near Key Support Zone
Cosmos' native token ATOM posted a robust 4% gain over the past 24 hours, surging from $4.78 to $4.89 between July 27 at 15:00 and July 28 at 14:00 UTC. The token's bullish advance was supported by clear technical signals, including multiple higher lows and a decisive breakout above the $4.84 resistance level, powered by volume surges that surpassed 1.2 million during key sessions at 06:00, 12:00, and 13:00 UTC. The latter part of the trading window saw ATOM dip briefly from a peak of $4.92 to $4.88 before rebounding to $4.91, reflecting a healthy consolidation phase. This movement was accompanied by diminishing volume, suggesting that the market may be stabilizing around the $4.90-$4.91 support zone as traders await the next directional move. Much of the upcoming price action will depend on whether BTC can break out of its current range and form new record highs, a shift above $124,000 and a period of consolidation would positively benefit altcoins including ATOM. Technical Analysis Summary Clear uptrend established with multiple higher lows. Resistance breached at $4.84 with strong volume confirmation. Volume spikes exceeded 1.2 million during key breakout sessions at 06:00, 12:00, and 13:00 UTC. Strong volume support between $4.82–$4.84. Overall trading range of $0.19 (4%) indicating constructive volatility. Late-session consolidation near $4.90–$4.91 as volume tapered off. Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
