Cryptocurrency
XRP Ledger SDK Compromised by Backdoor Exploit

The XRP Ledger Foundation has warned about a security vulnerability in the official JavaScript SDK, which interacts with the XRPL.
On April 21, Aikido Security revealed that several versions of its Node Package Manager (NPM) software were compromised and published, containing a backdoor that could steal private keys from users.
Security Flaw in Developer Kit
The XRP Ledger Foundation confirmed the issue in an April 22 statement:
“Earlier today, a security researcher from @AikidoSecurity identified a serious vulnerability in the xrpl npm package (v4.2.1-4.2.4 and v2.14.2).”
In response to the breach, Wietse Wind, founder and CEO of XRPL Labs, reassured users that Xaman Wallet was not affected by the flaw. Wind explained that the product does not use xrpl.js but instead relies on its xrpl-client and xrpl-accountlib libraries, which separate wallet connectivity from the signing process.
He also detailed how the incident unfolded, stating that malicious code in the xrpl.js package sent generated or imported private keys to an external server controlled by the attacker. This enabled hackers to collect key pairs, wait for the wallets to be funded, and then steal the assets.
Wind urged anyone who had recently created an XRP wallet using the API or related tools to assume it had been compromised and to transfer their funds immediately.
He emphasized that such attacks can happen to any software relying on third-party libraries, and that developers must take precautions. He also advised limiting publishing access, scanning code before release, avoiding auto-publishing pipelines, and not managing private keys directly unless fully prepared to handle the associated risks.
XRPL Issues Urgent Patch
Following the incident, the XRP Ledger Foundation has released a clean version of the NPM package, removing the malicious code and ensuring the SDK is safe for developers to use again.
Aikido Security discovered the vulnerability after its automated threat monitoring system flagged suspicious updates to the XRPL package on NPM. These updates, published by a user named “mukulljangid”, included five new versions that did not match any official releases on the XRP Ledger’s GitHub repository.
After investigating, Aikido found that the compromised versions contained a malicious function called checkValidityOfSeed, which sent private keys to the hacker’s server at 0x9c[.]xyz, when users created a wallet that could allow them to steal their crypto.
Early versions (v4.2.1 and v4.2.2) hid the backdoor in compiled JavaScript files, while later versions (v4.2.3 and v4.2.4) embedded the malicious code directly in TypeScript source files, making it harder to detect. The compromised packages also removed development tools like Prettier and build scripts from the package.json file, showing intentional manipulation.
The incident comes only weeks after Ripple announced a $1.25 billion acquisition of prime brokerage firm Hidden Road, a move experts believe will turn XRPL into a major conduit for institutional funds.
According to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, the network will be used for post-trade settlements on some transactions, potentially turning it into a corporate-scale clearing and credit platform.
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Cryptocurrency
Ripple (XRP) Price Explosion, Shiba Inu’s (SHIB) Potential, and More: Bits Recap July 18

TL;DR
- XRP surged by 60% in the last month, hitting a new historic peak. Analysts predict further gains, with targets up to $10.
- SHIB rose 30% in two weeks, yet 45% of holders remain in the red. Market observers see more upside based on certain chart patterns.
- BTC dipped to $119K after peaking at $123K, but strong ETF inflows and whale activity suggest the bull run may continue.
XRP Reached Uncharted Territory
Ripple’s XRP has been on the crest of the wave recently, with its price tapping an all-time high (on most exchanges and data aggregators) of over $3.60. The asset’s investors had to wait more than seven years for this achievement since the previous peak of approximately $3.40 was registered at the start of 2018.
Meanwhile, XRP’s market capitalization surged well above $200 billion, solidifying the token as the third-largest cryptocurrency and widening the gap with the fourth, Tether’s USDT.
The coin’s massive rally appears to be a combination of multiple bullish factors, including rising public interest, growing network growth, whales’ accumulation, and the recent green light on some important crypto bills in the United States.
Unsurprisingly, crypto X is rammed with users expecting the uptrend to continue in the short term. Ali Martinez believes a weekly close above $3 could open the door for a price ascent to as high as $4.80. Others like Javon Marks were even more bullish, envisioning a rise to the major milestone of $10.
What’s Going on With SHIB?
The second-largest meme coin experienced a 30% price increase over the last two weeks, while its market capitalization briefly exceeded $9 billion.
However, many of its holders await more substantial gains as they remain in the red. Earlier this week, the percentage of SHIB investors sitting on unrealized losses was around 54%, while currently it is 45%. This is so because a lot of holders joined the ecosystem years ago when Shiba Inu’s price was in much better condition.
Still, numerous analysts think the meme coin has the potential to pump much more significantly during this bull cycle. X user CJ claimed SHIB has formed “a pretty epic structure” on its price chart and predicted a massive jump in the near term.
Is BTC Ready for More?
While the leading cryptocurrency exploded to an all-time high of approximately $123,000 on July 14, it cooled off slightly in the following days. As of this writing, it trades at around $119,000, but certain indicators suggest the rally is far from being over.
BTC’s Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV), for instance, currently stands at around 2.36. “Historically, values over 3.7 indicated price top and values below 1 indicated price bottom,” CryptoQuant explained.
The flow of capital toward spot BTC ETFs remains solid, showing huge interest from investors, while the whales’ accumulation efforts can also be added to the bullish factors.
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Cryptocurrency
Stellar Surges 61% Weekly, Peter Brandt Calls XLM the ‘Most Bullish’ Chart

TL;DR
- XLM climbs 61% in seven days, nearing key resistance after strong technical breakout signals.
- Peter Brandt calls XLM the “most bullish chart,” eyes $1 breakout to confirm a multi-year pattern.
- Franklin Templeton tokenizes $446M in U.S. Treasuries on Stellar blockchain, boosting confidence.
Brandt Eyes Breakout Above $1
Stellar (XLM) has gained over 60% in the past week, with the price reaching $0.48 at press time. It is up nearly 5% in the last 24 hours, backed by a 24-hour trading volume of $2.1 billion. The rally has drawn fresh attention after market veteran Peter Brandt described the XLM chart as “potentially the most bullish chart of all.”
Brandt stated that XLM must hold above its April 2025 low near $0.22 and “must must close decisively above $1” to confirm the setup. Until that happens, he said, the chart “will remain range bound.”
Potentially the most bullish chart of all belongs to $XLM
XLM MUST MUST remain above Apr low and MUST MUST close decisively above $1. Until then this chart will remain range bound pic.twitter.com/NZvKLp5SVW— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) July 17, 2025
Price Structure Builds Toward Key Resistance
Notably, the long-term chart shows a potential ascending triangle along with a cup-and-handle pattern. Both patterns are forming below long-standing resistance at the $1.00 level. That resistance has been tested multiple times since 2018 but has not yet been broken on a closing basis.
XLM’s price is trading above both the 8-period and 18-period moving averages. The shorter-term average has crossed above the longer one, which often signals rising momentum. The ADX is at 45.16, showing that trend strength is elevated.
A short-term resistance area sits near $0.58, according to market analyst CW.
“$XLM is heading towards the sell wall at $0.58. Below that, there is support from the buy wall,” they said.
Stellar Network Sees Institutional Growth
Franklin Templeton recently tokenized $446 million in U.S. Treasuries on the Stellar network. This reflects continued use of the blockchain platform for real-world asset settlement.
In addition, the Stellar Development Foundation also announced new executive hires. José Fernández da Ponte, who previously led blockchain efforts at PayPal, has joined as President and Chief Growth Officer. Jason Karsh, who held roles at Blockchain.com and Coinbase, is now Chief Marketing Officer.
Stellar’s Protocol 23 is set for a mainnet vote on August 14, 2025. The proposal focuses on updates to core features. Ahead of the vote, interest in XLM has increased, with users and developers watching the outcome closely.
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Cryptocurrency
Cardano (ADA) Bulls Target $1.31 After Surpassing $0.85 Mark

TL;DR
- ADA breaks resistance at $0.74 and tests $0.85 as bulls push toward higher price levels.
- Analysts eye $1.18 and $1.31 targets if ADA closes daily above the $0.85 breakout level.
- Open Interest on ADA hits $1.65 billion, setting a new record and showing rising trader confidence.
Cardano Holds Gains Near $0.85 After Breakout
Cardano (ADA) traded at $0.852 after rising 7% in 24 hours and 20% over the week. The move followed a breakout from a long downward trend, with buyers now pushing into higher price zones.
Earlier resistance around $0.74 had held the price in check during multiple attempts this year. That level has now been breached. ADA touched nearly $0.78 last week before a brief pullback, but buyers stepped in again, pushing the price above $0.84 heading into the weekend.
Analysts Watch the $0.85 Level for Confirmation
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez said a daily close above $0.85 could open the way toward $1.31. His view is based on earlier market structure and current momentum. ADA has cleared the $0.68 mark, which may now serve as support if prices remain above it.
A daily close above $0.85 could propel Cardano $ADA toward the next key resistance at $1.31! pic.twitter.com/RVgw3yE9lr
— Ali (@ali_charts) July 17, 2025
Marcus Corvinus noted that ADA has exited a long-term descending channel and flagged $0.77 to $0.82 as the next zone to watch. He added that holding above $0.82 could shift attention to $1.18. On the downside, $0.68 and $0.58 are the nearest support zones in case of any pullback.
Open Interest Pushes Higher With Price
Cardano’s recent gains are backed by rising interest in its futures market. Data from CoinGlass shows Open Interest (OI) on ADA has grown by 16% in the last 24 hours, reaching $1.65 billion, surpassing the previous record high of $1.50 billion set on January 18.
Open Interest reflects capital tied to active trading positions. A steady rise often means traders are committing more capital, which can support ongoing moves. This increase adds weight to the recent price trend.
In fact, with ADA reclaiming the $0.80 range and testing $0.85, traders are focused on whether it can close the day above that level.
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