- The Discord servers of Avalanche and zkSync were compromised by phishing schemes within 48 hours.
- Fetch.ai opens a new AI innovation lab in San Francisco, aiming to bridge AI technology with blockchain applications.
Over the past week, the blockchain community witnessed significant security breaches alongside promising advancements. Two major blockchain platforms, Avalanche and zkSync, experienced phishing attacks on their Discord servers, exposing vulnerabilities within digital communication channels used by blockchain enthusiasts.
Discord Servers Targeted
The incidents began when Avalanche’s Discord server was compromised. The attackers distributed fraudulent links purporting to offer free AVAX tokens, a tactic aimed at deceiving users into providing access to their digital wallets. Despite the quick response from Avalanche’s team to rectify the breach, the zkSync Discord server suffered a similar fate shortly thereafter, marking a troubling trend of security challenges facing blockchain communities.
Screenshots from community members on the social platform X depicted messages from attackers, revealing the sophisticated nature of these phishing attempts. Both attacks occurred within a close temporal proximity, suggesting a possibly coordinated effort. The response from the platforms was swift, with efforts focusing on restoring security and advising community members to avoid engaging with suspicious links.
Fetch.ai Unveils AI Innovation Lab
In contrast to these security woes, Fetch.ai announced the launch of a new innovation lab in San Francisco on August 23. This facility is dedicated to advancing artificial intelligence technologies in integration with blockchain, aiming to support startups that utilize AI to automate and enhance user tasks. Fetch.ai committed $10 million annually to fund projects that bridge the gap between AI research and market applications.
Humayun Sheikh, CEO of Fetch.ai, emphasized the lab’s focus on catalyzing projects that leverage AI agents to revolutionize industries. This development represents a forward-looking endeavor to merge AI with blockchain, enhancing the capabilities and applications of both technologies.
Amid these security and technological developments, Parity Technologies announced a new digital identity solution called Proof-of-Ink. This initiative will allow users to verify their digital identities through unique tattoos, serving as a proof of digital citizenship while maintaining privacy. Gavin Wood, co-founder of Ethereum, Polkadot, and Kusama, shared insights at the Web3 Summit in Berlin, outlining the timeline for launching Proof-of-Ink and its potential to foster broader adoption of Web3 technologies.