The cryptocurrency sector saw three major developments today, from a newly discovered malware targeting wallets to a surprising revival in metaverse-linked NFTs, and fresh reports that BlackRock is exploring tokenised exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

ModStealer Malware Targets Wallets Across Systems

A new malware strain named ModStealer has emerged, posing significant risks for crypto users. Security researchers at Apple-focused firm Mosyle revealed that the malware has been attacking wallets and credentials on macOS, Windows and Linux. Alarmingly, it remained undetected by leading antivirus software for almost a month after first appearing on VirusTotal, a platform that checks files for malicious code.

According to Mosyle, ModStealer is engineered to steal private keys, certificates, browser-based wallet extensions and login credentials. The malware has been coded to target a range of wallets on Safari and Chromium-based browsers. On macOS, it can persist by registering itself as a background agent, making it difficult for users to detect and remove.

Investigators found that the server is hosted in Finland, although the infrastructure appears to be routed through Germany to disguise its origin. Distribution methods include fake job recruitment advertisements, a tactic increasingly used against Web3 developers and builders.

Metaverse NFT Sales Register Growth
The metaverse has shown signs of life, with non-fungible token (NFT) sales linked to virtual worlds rising 27% in August. According to data from DappRadar, total trading volume stood at 6.5 million dollars, a slight dip from July’s 6.7 million, but the number of sales rose to 13,927 from 10,900 in the previous month.

DappRadar analyst Sara Gherghelas said the figures suggest that “the metaverse is not dead yet” despite fading hype compared with the speculative boom of 2021 and 2022. Leading platforms such as Sandbox, Mocaverse, Otherside and Decentraland reported steady activity, with several announcing infrastructure upgrades in recent weeks.

Although overall volume has dropped sharply from the peak years, the latest numbers indicate that virtual ecosystems retain an engaged user base. Analysts believe long-term investment in development will be key to sustaining growth in the space.

BlackRock Considers Tokenised ETFs
BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, is reported to be exploring the tokenisation of ETFs. Sources cited by Bloomberg claim the company is assessing how blockchain technology could be used to create tokenised funds, particularly those backed by real-world assets.

Tokenisation could extend ETF trading beyond normal market hours and open new use cases, such as collateral in decentralised finance (DeFi) applications. ETFs have already become one of the most popular investment products worldwide, with their number now surpassing that of publicly listed companies, according to Morningstar.

BlackRock has experience in this field, managing the BlackRock USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL), which holds more than 2.2 billion dollars in tokenised assets across multiple blockchains including Ethereum, Avalanche, Aptos and Polygon.

Industry Sees Tokenisation as Major Shift
JPMorgan has described tokenisation as a “significant leap” for the seven trillion dollar money market fund sector. The bank highlighted the initiative launched by Goldman Sachs and Bank of New York Mellon, which BlackRock is expected to join. Under this plan, BNY clients will be able to access money market funds with share ownership registered directly on a private blockchain.

Analysts believe that if regulatory challenges can be overcome, tokenisation could represent a major turning point for mainstream finance, reshaping how traditional investment products operate within digital ecosystems.