ChainCatcher news, Cointelegraph posted on the X platform revealing that MetaMask has expanded its cryptocurrency payment card pilot program in the United States, allowing users to pay directly from their wallets.

ChainCatcher news, MetaMask has announced the launch of a crypto debit card pilot program in the United States. The card supports spending at any merchant that accepts Mastercard, allowing users to pay with USDC, USDT, and wETH on the Linea network, and it can be added to Apple Pay or Google Pay.It is reported that the MetaMask Card is developed in collaboration with MetaMask, Mastercard, and Baanx (Crypto Life), and has already been launched in regions such as the EU, the UK, Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia. Unlike traditional crypto cards, this card operates in a debit card mode, allowing users to use crypto assets directly from their wallets without needing to pre-load funds into a third party, converting only at the time of payment. MetaMask stated that it will expand to more regions in the coming months.

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, Rhys Bollen, the head of digital assets at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), made controversial remarks during a liaison meeting on December 12, comparing Bitcoin to cigarettes used as currency in prisons. This statement stems from ASIC's recent release of a regulatory consultation document on non-cash payment instruments (NCP), which may bring cryptocurrencies under regulatory oversight.Industry insiders are concerned that applying financial regulation to tools like non-custodial wallets could stifle innovation and lead to an exodus of businesses. Michaela Juric, the project manager of AUDD, warned that this regulatory approach could force tools like MetaMask to apply for an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL).

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, MetaMask co-founder Dan Finlay has recently been experimenting with issuing meme coins on Ethereum and Solana to explore issues of user consent and trust in the Web3 ecosystem. He issued tokens named "Consent" and "I Don't Consent" on Ethereum and Solana through the Clanker bot and Pump.fun platform, respectively. The results of the experiment showed that rapid trading activity led to a significant inflation of the token's value, with Finlay's holdings at one point exceeding $100,000.However, the experiment revealed many issues within the meme coin ecosystem. Due to the lack of clear positioning and purpose for the tokens, investors continuously attempted to assign more meaning to them, with some even threatening Finlay or demanding a long-term development plan. Finlay likened this phenomenon to the issue of data usage consent in the AI field, specifically mentioning Bluesky's practice of using public posts for AI training without explicit user consent, calling for the establishment of a more robust trust mechanism and user consent framework in the Web3 ecosystem.Finlay stated that the meme coin ecosystem urgently needs better tools and incentive mechanisms. He suggested creating new systems that allow token issuers to have fine control over their tokens, including restricting trading within specific communities and providing structured sales methods. He emphasized that this is not only a matter of ethics but also about building better products, stating, "Applications should not become toxic asset pools, and communities should not be filled with users issuing personal threats; your shares should not be diluted by anonymous whales."

ChainCatcher news, the encrypted wallet MetaMask tweeted that its U.S. users (excluding those in Texas and New York) can use Venmo to purchase cryptocurrency, supported by MoonPay. Users can initiate Venmo through the MetaMask extension and mobile devices.

ChainCatcher news, MetaMask co-founder Dan Finlay announced half an hour ago that he issued a token named CONSENT on Base and Solana through clanker and pump.fun respectively, stating that only one token will prevail, aiming to compare the Meme experience on the two chains.Dan Finlay mentioned that on clanker, users might encounter scams, while on pump.fun, the developers are founding members of the project, which adds a certain level of credibility to the project.He also pointed out that although the amount deposited on clanker is far greater than that on pump.fun, the money earned on pump.fun is several times more than the money lost on clanker.

ChainCatcher news, MetaMask developer Consensys announced the launch of the on-chain personal sovereignty proof project sovs.xyz, which supports users in proving sovereignty types such as economic, data, technology, culture, legal, political, and environmental on the Linea blockchain.

ChainCatcher news, the developer of the encrypted wallet MetaMask, Consensys, announced a sustainable development roadmap. Consensys has currently built infrastructure products and services such as MetaMask, Infura, Truffle, Diligence, Besu, Teku, GNARK, DIN, and Linea, and will continue to support the vision and mission of Ethereum projects, further promoting the gradual realization of strict decentralization, with relevant plans to be announced in a few weeks. Consensys is currently in a transformation period, gradually decentralizing and shifting its focus towards converting products into protocols, evolving from a company into a Network State over time.In previous news, Consensys announced a 20% layoff, affecting about 160 employees, due to legal expenses related to macroeconomic conditions and the company's long-standing struggles with regulators. The company will provide relevant compensation for the laid-off employees, including: severance pay, extended stock option exercise windows, re-employment support, and expanded healthcare services.

ChainCatcher news, according to Fortune, the crypto wallet MetaMask developer Consensys has announced layoffs of over 160 employees.Consensys founder and CEO Joe Lubin stated, "The layoffs are a difficult but prudent decision to streamline our operations, affecting about 162 of Consensys's 828 employees." He added that the layoffs will extend to every department, including business development and product.The company stated that it is providing severance packages, including career support and extended healthcare benefits.

ChainCatcher news, according to The Block, MetaMask and Space ID have announced an integration partnership aimed at simplifying the sending of digital assets and access to crypto wallets. According to the statement, this new integration will allow users to "replace all public wallet addresses with a secure and customizable handle when transacting on MetaMask." This means that Space ID users can send cryptocurrency by simply entering a username, without facing the confusion of a 42-character alphanumeric string, which, if mistyped, could result in a total loss of funds.MetaMask's product lead, Christian Montoya, stated that the integration with Space ID will enable "MetaMask users to send and receive cryptocurrency more easily and securely across any EVM-compatible chain." Space ID stated in the announcement that users will now be able to "organize and store handles from multiple chains in one wallet."

ChainCatcher news, according to official information, the Ethereum wallet Metamask is now compatible with the NGRAVE hardware wallet, allowing users to sync with Metamask through NGRAVE ZERO. The minimum compatible version for the browser extension wallet is v.12.3.0, and the minimum compatible version for the mobile app is v.7.31.1.

ChainCatcher message, according to Scam Sniffer monitoring, MetaMask has improved the readability of Permit and Uniswap Permit2 signatures, helping users clearly identify these signing information. Please make sure to update MetaMask to the latest version.

ChainCatcher message, according to Scam Sniffer monitoring, MetaMask has improved the readability of Permit and Uniswap Permit2 signatures, helping users clearly identify these signing information. Please make sure to update MetaMask to the latest version.

ChainCatcher news, researchers from the cybersecurity company Checkmarx have issued a warning about a dangerous malware uploaded to the Python Package Index (PyPI) that steals private keys. According to the company, this malware was automatically uploaded by suspicious users through several different packages, designed to mimic decoding applications of popular wallets and other mainstream industry products like MetaMask, Atomic, TronLink, and Ronin.The malware is cleverly embedded in various parts of the packages. Since this malware appears to be harmless code, it is essentially undetectable. However, upon closer inspection, once an unsuspecting user calls specific functions embedded in the package, certain parts of the data will allow hackers to control cryptocurrency wallets and transfer funds.

ChainCatcher news, according to Coinpost, the Financial Services Agency of Japan has issued a statement believing that "unmanaged wallet services" using certification technology do not fall under the category of cryptocurrency trading businesses (managed businesses). This judgment is seen as a way to help alleviate legal uncertainties in the cryptocurrency (virtual currency) industry.An unmanaged wallet is a digital wallet for cryptocurrency assets where users can manage their own private keys. This method of bypassing a central administrator is the foundation of widely adopted services in the industry (such as Metamask and Phantom).This judgment was made through the "Gray Zone Elimination System" based on the Act on Strengthening Industrial Competitiveness. This system aims to promote innovation by clarifying the regulatory applicability in emerging businesses in advance. The relevant procedure was requested by the business minister (in this case, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) to the regulatory minister (the Financial Services Agency) for confirmation.