gm, readers.

At Automata we work on protecting privacy and fairness. And in this newsletter, we find more reasons to talk about it. Explore headlines and catch up on the biggest crypto news in Web3 privacy.

This week:

• Trezor security breach exposes contact information of over 66k users

• Rocket Pool’s X account compromised, posting false warnings of smart contract exploits to deceptively lure users into transferring assets

• MacOS malware targets users through pirated software, replacing crypto wallets with infected versions

• Hacker exploits Mailer Lite vulnerability, sends deceptive emails mimicking Web3 firms with malicious links to wallet-draining sites

• Masa secures $5.4M in seed funding for privacy-preserving AI training data platform on Avalanche

• Coti commits $25M ecosystem fund to drive initiatives focused on privacy

• Brave removes ‘Strict’ setting on fingerprinting protection for enhanced user privacy

Zooming into ZK:

• PunkPoll minimizes risk of sensitive data exposure in Beta launch of its voting system with Mina’s ZK offerings

• Polyhedra partners with Dechat for private messaging via zkBridge

• Manta faces DDoS attack during token listing on exchanges

• Sys Labs expands zkDA PoDA solution to enhance security across L2 networks with Polyhedra

Conversations you missed:

• AMA on MetaMask Snaps: Exploring wallet privacy and security

We dive into the details, so you don’t have to:

Masa Network secures $5.4 million in seed funding led by Anagram to establish a decentralized network on Avalanche, focusing on users' personal data. Masa aims to create a data platform where users contribute personal data, receiving compensation in Masa's native token. Developers can access this data for AI model training and application development, emphasizing user privacy through advanced encryption like zero-knowledge proofs.

Sys Labs is expanding its proof of data availability (PoDA) solution, called "zkDA," to other layer-2 networks in collaboration with Polyhedra. zkDA combines Bitcoin merged mining security with Syscoin's PoDA efficiency for enhanced blockchain interoperability. It features full node data processing, efficient pruning, and a unique approach to zero-knowledge verification of data availability. NodeKit, developer of SEQ, plans to integrate zkDA as an option.

PunkPoll has collaborated with Mina Foundation to launch the Open Beta of their voting system, designed for transparent and anonymous voting on Mina Protocol. PunkPoll utilizes Mina's ZK features to mitigate risks of data disclosure, ensuring transparent polling and validating users' identities. As part of the Open Beta, PunkPoll is integrating with KakaoTalk.

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This newsletter is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional financial advice or interpreted as investment advice. Cryptocurrencies are volatile assets and you should always do your own research before making any informed decisions when investing or trading.