A new cryptojacking malware reportedly has the ability to disable cloud-based security measures to avoid detection on Linux-based servers. A new cryptojacking malware has the ability to disable cloud-based security measures to avoid detection on Linux servers, research by information security company Palo Alto Networks Jan. 17 reveals.The malware in question mines Monero (XMR) and is reportedly a modified version of one used by the so-called “Rocke” group, originally discovered by cybersecurity firm Talos in August last year. According to the research, one of the first things that the malware does is check for other cryptocurrency mining processes and add firewall rules to block any other cryptojacking malware.The virus reportedly also searches for cloud security services by Chinese internet giants Tencent and Alibaba and neutralizes them in an attempt to remain concealed. Ryan Olson, vice president for threat intelligence at Palo Alto Networks explained:“This evolution indicates that attackers who are compromising hosts operating in cloud platforms are now attempting to evade security products that are specific to those platforms.”The virus also reportedly takes advantage of known vulnerabilities in older versions of Apache Struts 2, Oracle WebLogic and Adobe ColdFusion to infect the systems. Still, keeping the software updated to the latest version prevents the attack, according to the report.As Cointelegraph reported in December last year, cryptojacking malware activity rose by over 4000 percent in 2018, according to a new quarterly report published by cybersecurity firm McAfee Labs.According to another report published the same month, 415,000 MikroTik routers had been affected by cryptojacking malware at that time, double the number of infected devices since last summer. […]

The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development stated that regulators should facilitate the development of ICOs. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has stated that global regulators should work together to facilitate the development of initial coin offerings (ICOs), according to a report released Jan. 15.The document calls for regulatory clarity and a supervisory framework for ICOs, defining such moves as “a stepping stone to their safer use for financing purposes.” The report also underlines the importance of standardized disclosure requirements, enhanced investor protection Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorist Financing (CFT) measures.A separate document dedicated to the highlights of the report states:“A delicate balance will need to be achieved in the development or application of regulatory and supervisory requirements which do not deprive the ICO mechanism of its speed and cost benefits, particularly when it comes to smaller size offerings.”The same document also states that given the global nature of ICOs, there is a need for international cooperation to prevent regulatory arbitrage. According to the text, such collaboration will “allow ICOs to deliver their potential for the financing of blockchain-based SMEs [small and medium enterprises], while adequately protecting investors.”The OECD is an organization that describes itself as an “economic counterpart to NATO,” with a mission to “help governments achieve sustainable economic growth and employment and rising standards of living.”As Cointelegraph reported in August last year, the OECD then announced the “first major international conference” dedicated to blockchain. Organizers planned to focus on the use of blockchain tech in government activities and public initiatives, as well as regulatory aspects.A Cointelegraph analysis from September of last year describes how OECD has been cautiously enthusiastic about blockchain technology. The organization has on the other hand been reportedly less supportive of blockchain-based currencies — such as Bitcoin (BTC) — that potentially bypass central banks’ authority. […]

Chinese exchange ZB.com saw an 80 percent surge in 24-hour traded volume to seal top exchange ranking on CoinMarketCap, surpassing Binance. Friday, Jan. 18 — crypto markets continue to see calm, with all top ten coins seeing mixed 24-hour price changes capped within a 3 percent range, as Coin360 data shows.Market visualization from Coin360On CoinMarketCap (CMC)’s crypto exchange rankings by adjusted daily traded volumes, however, some major upheavals are underway. Today, Chinese exchange ZB.com saw an 80 percent surge in 24-hour trade volume to hit ~$606.7 million, and displacing Binance as top exchange on CMC.ZB.com is currently ranked the largest exchange globally; however, during the time of writing, a separate China-based exchange, LBank, has flickered in and out of the top spot, at several points posting over 150 percent increase in trades on the day to hit volumes of ~$800-900 million. Up to press time, the exchanges volumes had fleetingly reduced to ~$380 million, thus dropping back to fourth place.First three top crypto exchanges by adjusted daily trade volume. Source: CoinMarketCapAround 47 percent of the trade volume on ZB.com is accounted for by Qtum-Tether (QTUM/USDT) trading, according to CoinMarketCap data.Trade volumes of formerly top platform Binance have meanwhile dropped 14 percent on the day, seeing ~$550 million in trades.Commentators on crypto twitter have remarked on the conspicuous uptick, with Twitter persona TheFist claiming:“Looks like a ton of market manipulation by zb.com tanking most digital assets and trying to pump tron. The Chinese are dump and pumping last night[.]”Meanwhile, according to a tweet from ZB.com Jan. 16, crypto ranking website CoinGecko has released its own exchange rankings for Q4 2018, which places ZB.com as the second largest by median  reported volume:CoinGecko’s crypto exchange rankings for Q1 2018. Source: ZB.com TwitterConsiderably less volatile, top cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC) has seen negligible price change over the past 24 hours, down 0.45 percent on the day to trade at $3,645. After an intraweek low of ~$3,550 Jan. 13, Bitcoin has recovered to trade just 1.6 percent down on its 7 day chart. On the month, the coin is up by 3 percent.Bitcoin 7-day price chart. Source: CoinMarketCapRipple (XRP) — which has regained its spot as largest altcoin by market cap — has also seen mild price change on the day, losing 1.2 percent to trade ~$0.32 at press time. With a market cap of $13.3 billion to press time, Ripple is only just ahead of Ethereum (ETH), which has a market cap of around $12.6 billion to press time, according to CoinMarketCap data.Ripple is now down around 3.5 percent on the week, and down 2.4 percent on the month.Ripple’s 7-day price chart. Source: CoinMarketCapEthereum has seen a similarly mild 1.6 percent loss to trade at ~$121. The altcoin is down close to 6 percent on its 7-day chart; on the month, growth remains at a bullish 27 percent.Ethereum 7-day price chart. Source: CoinMarketCapAmong the remaining top ten coins on CoinMarketCap, all are in the red, seeing losses capped below 3 percent. EOS (EOS) is seeing the heaviest losses on the day among the top ten coins, down 2.7 percent to press time.Among the top twenty, losses are also capped near 3 percent — with Ethereum Classic (ETC) losing the most, down 3.2 percent on the day to trade at $4.33. Binance Coin (BNB) and IOTA (MIOTA) are the only coins in the green, with the former up a solid 3.9 percent and the latter up just a fraction of a percent to press time.Total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies is at around $121.2 billion as of press time — down around 1.6 percent on the week.7-day chart of total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies. Source: CoinMarketCapSpeaking against the tide in a tweet posted today, Morgan Creek investment analyst Chris King stated:“I used to pound the table on tokenized securities. As new information on the market was presented I’ve completely changed my view. Not much value will be captured by “tokenizing” traditional securities. -no liquidity or liquidity premium -no demand -no value creation.”Tokenized securities have been gaining significant traction with industry leaders, as exemplified by the words of Bitcoin bull and co-founder of Gemini exchange, Cameron Winklevoss, who recently remarked:“I think the next wave will see the real innovation, and the really interesting assets that become tokenized — like real estate, like buildings that are currently not traded in a really liquid fashion. So that’s exciting.&rdquo […]

Thailand’s Stock Exchange exec reveals plans to set up a licensed digital asset exchange in the country. The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is planning to set up a regulated digital asset exchange, local news agency The Bangkok Post reported on Jan. 17.Citing the vice chair of SET’s board of governors, Pattera Dilokrungthirapop, — аlso chair of the Association of Securities Companies — the report revealed that the national stock exchange plans to apply for a digital asset operating licence from the country’s Ministry of Finance within the year.According to the plan, SET’s member securities firms will be able to apply to become brokers and dealers for trading on the new digital asset exchange.As a representative of the securities industry, Dilokrungthirapop stressed that there are a number of securities firms that are interested in broker and dealer activity with digital assets as a class, but are not necessarily looking to enter cryptocurrency markets.Dilokrungthirapop further stated:"Securities firms are currently waiting for the SET to apply for a licence. For us, digital assets are expected to grow in the future as investors gain more understanding of this asset class."Jirayut Srupsrisopa, chief executive of Thai crypto exchange Bitkub, noted that a digital asset exchange from SET would have the advantage of leveraging the stock exchange’s already existing trust and capital. The exchange also expressed interest in partnering with SET for its digital asset venture.Recently, the much-anticipated digital assets platform Bakkt — created by the operator of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) — entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets in futures commision merchant Rosenthal Collins Group (RCG).Earlier in January, Estonia-based DX Exchange launched its digital trading platform offering tokenized traditional stocks on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain. […]

A representative from Binance has declined to confirm the locations of as many as six reported further fiat-supporting platforms. Major crypto exchange Binance plans to expand to eight new countries in 2019, according to a report from crypto outlet The Block, Jan. 17. Following the report, a Binance spokesperson has declined to confirm six of the alleged locations in comments to Cointelegraph today, Jan. 18.Just a day after the major cryptocurrency exchange launched its new European-focused platform for fiat-crypto trading in Jersey, The Block published a report that included a screenshot of a spreadsheet allegedly outlining all the locations for Binance’s fiat-crypto exchanges that are already-launched, intended and under consideration.In addition to Uganda — which launched in October — and just-live Jersey, the Block listed Singapore, Malta, South Korea, Liechtenstein, Argentina, Russia, Turkey and Bermuda — a total of eight prospective fiat platforms across four continents.A Binance representative told Cointelegraph the exchange could only confirm Singapore and Malta — both listed in the report as being slated for launch in 2019. Five further countries had been listed as “intended,” and the last, Bermuda, as being under consideration.In response to the report, the Binance spokesperson suggested The Block may have “made the spreadsheet themselves,” as it was “definitely not from us.”As reported, Binance announced it would be starting private beta testing for a crypto-fiat exchange in Singapore last September. In June, the exchange had opened a bank account in Malta, paving the way for the introduction of fiat-crypto pairs, and detailed plans in September to launch a security tokens trading platform on the island.Notably, last August Binance itself announced it would be launching a fiat-to-crypto exchange in  Liechtenstein — with support for Swiss francs (CHF) and Euros (EUR) — notwithstanding the company representative’s refusal to confirm The Block’s claims.As Cointelegraph reported in September, the CEO and founder of Binance, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), revealed that the company intends to launch five to ten fiat-to-crypto exchanges — two per continent — within one year, without specifying the exact locations.Binance is the currently the world’s second largest crypto exchange by 24-hour adjusted trading volume, seeing almost ~$570 million in trades on the day to press time. […]