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The Solana Foundation has confirmed that a zero-day vulnerability that allowed an attacker to potentially mint certain tokens and even withdraw those tokens from user accounts has been fixed. 

A May 3 post-mortem from the Solana Foundation said that the security vulnerability, first discovered on April 16, could have allowed an attacker to forge an invalid proof affecting Solana’s privacy-enabling “Token-22 confidential tokens.”

There is no known exploit of the vulnerability, and Solana validators have since adopted the patched version, the foundation said.

Solana zero-day security bug affected Token-22 confidential tokens

The Solana Foundation said the security vulnerability concerned two programs: Token-2022 and ZK ElGamal Proof.

Token-2022 handles the main application logic for token mints and accounts, while ZK ElGamal Proof verifies the correctness of zero-knowledge proofs to show accurate account balances.

The foundation said certain algebraic components were omitted from the hash in the Fiat-Shamir Transformation’s transcript generation, which specifies how provers create public randomness using a cryptographic hash function. 

The flaw could have enabled an attacker to exploit the unhashed components by crafting a forged proof that passes verification to mint and steal Token-22 confidential tokens.

Token-22 confidential tokens, or “Extension Tokens,” leverage zero-knowledge proofs for private transfers and aim to enable advanced token functionality. 

The vulnerability was first identified on April 16, and two patches were deployed to resolve the issues. A super majority of Solana validators adopted the patches around two days later.

Solana development firms Anza, Firedancer and Jito were the main parties behind the security patch, while Asymmetric Research, Neodyme and OtterSec also assisted.

The foundation confirmed that all funds remain safe.

Related: Bloomberg Intelligence boosts Solana ETF approval odds to 90%

Despite the fix, the Solana Foundation’s private handling of the issue with Solana validators raised centralization concerns from some in the crypto community. 

This included a Curve Finance contributor who raised concerns about the foundation’s close relationship with Solana validators.

“Why does someone have a list of all validators and their contact details? What else are they talking about in those comms channels,” they asked, fearing that they could collude to potentially censor transactions or roll back the chain.

Solana Labs CEO Anatoly Yakovenko didn’t directly deny the claims but said members of the Ethereum community could also coordinate to resolve a similar security bug.

More than 70% of Ethereum network validators are also controlled by crypto exchanges or staking operators such as Lido, Yakovenko said in arguing his point.

“It’s the same people to get to 70% on ethereum. All the lido validators (chorus one, p2p, etc..) binance, coinbase, and kraken. If geth needs to push a patch, I’ll be happy to coordinate for them.”

In August, the Solana Foundation and network validators resolved another critical vulnerability behind the scenes. At the time, the foundation’s executive director, Dan Albert, said the ability to coordinate a patch doesn’t mean that Solana is centralized.

Ethereum wouldn’t fall for the same issue, community member says

Ethereum community member Ryan Berckmans slammed claims that Ethereum is subject to the same centralization issues as Solana, pointing out that Ethereum has sufficient client diversity. 

The most popular Ethereum client, geth, has at most 41% market share on Ethereum, Berckmans said, while noting that Solana has just one production-ready client, Agave.

“This means zero day bugs in the single Sol client are de facto protocol bugs. Change the single client program, change the protocol itself. The client is the protocol.”

Meanwhile, Solana is looking to roll out a new client, Firedancer, in the next few months, which is expected to improve the network’s resilience and uptime. 

However, Berckmans said that Solana would need three clients to be sufficiently decentralized at the client level.

Magazine: Memecoins are ded — But Solana ‘100x better’ despite revenue plunge

Toymaking giant Mattel is putting the brakes on its Hot Wheels Virtual Garage non-fungible tokens, pending a decision on the collection’s future.

There will be no future releases of any new NFT series or feature drops for the “foreseeable future,” Mattel said in an update on its website. The company said it will decide on the “long-term future” of Mattel digital collectibles.

“Your unwavering support and enthusiasm for the Hot Wheels Virtual Garage has been legendary, and we’re incredibly grateful to have been on this journey with you,” the company said.

“As we evaluate the changing world of virtual collectibles, we’ve determined the time has come to end our Series and Feature Drops in 2025 and onward.”

In the meantime, users’ hot wheel NFT collections, the Mattel Digital Collectibles Marketplace, the community Discord and other channels will continue to operate as normal through at least 2025, according to Mattel.

Holders can still buy, sell and trade their Hot Wheels NFTS on the Mattel Digital Collectibles Marketplace, while existing and outstanding redemptions will be “fulfilled as promised.”

However, there is no option to transfer the NFTs to other wallets or marketplaces at the moment. Mattel says it’s exploring possible options around this feature.

“We are developing a long-term plan for Virtual Collectibles and will share updates with the community in the future,” the company said.

The Hot Wheels NFT Garage Series 7 and the Mattel Creations Virtual Market Place opens on 12.7.2023. #HotWheels pic.twitter.com/CidwT3qqC3

— Hot Wheels (@Hot_Wheels) November 30, 2023

Mattel launched series one for its Hot Wheels NFT Garage in November 2021 in partnership with the Worldwide Asset eXchange. The latest release, series 10, went live in December last year.

Nike sunsets its NFTs, while FIFA doubles down 

Mattel isn’t the only company winding down its NFT services — sporting footwear and apparel giant Nike sunset its NFT marketplace RTFKT in January. Holders have since launched a lawsuit, alleging Nike has caused them financial harm by shuttering the marketplace.

Related: NFT project plans crowdfund purchase of Cold War nuclear bunker

However, other companies continue to support NFT holders. FIFA, which launched its NFT collection ahead of the 2023 Club World Cup, announced on April 30 that it was creating a new Ethereum-compatible blockchain for its digital collectibles.

The overall NFT market dropped sharply in the first quarter of 2025, with sales plunging 63% year-over-year, to $1.5 billion in total sales from January to March 2025, down from $4.1 billion during the same period in 2024.

Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again

Key points:

• Bitcoin’s positive sentiment should remain intact if BTC price stays above the 20-day EMA near $92,000.

• Several altcoins show bullish chart patterns in the 4-hour and 1-day timeframes.

Bitcoin (BTC) has given back some of the gains over the weekend, and the price has pulled back to the breakout level of $95,000. Buyers will have to successfully hold the $95,000 level to keep the bullish momentum intact.

Bitcoin network economist Timothy Peterson said in a post on X that Bitcoin could surge to a new all-time high and reach a target of $135,000 in the next 100 days if certain conditions are met. Peterson believes a drop in the CBOE Volatility Index below 18 could trigger a “risk-on environment” favoring Bitcoin. The other crucial points needed for the Bitcoin rally are a fall in interest rates and a solid performance in the above-average performing months of June and July. 

The cryptocurrency markets may remain volatile in the near term as traders await the Federal Reserve’s upcoming interest rate decision next week. Although the CME Group’s FedWatch Tool projects a low probability of a rate cut on May 7, markets may make a decisive move after the event.

Could Bitcoin hold the retest of the $95,000 level? If it does, let’s study the charts of the cryptocurrencies that may move higher in the near term.

Bitcoin price prediction

Bitcoin broke above the $95,000 resistance on May 1, but the bulls failed to sustain the momentum. The price turned down from $97,895 on May 2 and has reached the breakout level of $95,000. 

The upsloping 20-day exponential moving average ($92,106) and the relative strength index (RSI) in the positive territory indicate that buyers have the edge. If the price rebounds off the zone between $95,000 and the 20-day EMA, the bulls will make one more attempt to push the BTC/USDT pair to $100,000. 

Contrarily, a break and close below the 20-day EMA suggests that the rally above $95,000 may have been a bull trap. That heightens the risk of a drop to the 50-day simple moving average ($86,682).

The moving averages have flattened out, and the RSI has dropped near the midpoint on the 4-hour chart, suggesting a weakening momentum. If the price drops below $95,000, the pair could descend to $92,800 and then to $91,660. A break below $91,660 clears the path for a fall to $86,000.

Buyers will have to drive and sustain the price above $97,895 to regain control. The pair could climb to $100,000 and later to $107,000.

Hyperliquid price prediction

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is facing resistance at $21.50, but a positive sign is that the bulls have not ceded much ground to the bears.

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($18.48) and the RSI near the overbought zone suggest the path of least resistance is to the upside. A close above $21.50 could start the next leg of the up move to $25 and then to $27.50.

The first sign of weakness will be a break and close below the 20-day EMA, suggesting profit booking by the short-term bulls. The HYPE/USDT pair could then fall to $17.35, which is likely to act as solid support.

The bears are defending the $21.50 level, but the bulls have not allowed the price to slip below the 20-EMA on the 4-hour chart. A solid bounce off the 20-EMA could challenge the overhead hurdle. If the $21.50 level is scaled, the pair could soar toward $25.

Instead, if the price breaks the 20-EMA, select short-term buyers may be tempted to book profits. That could sink the pair to the 50-SMA, which is a critical support to keep an eye on. If the level cracks, the pair may descend to $17.35.

AAVE price prediction

Aave (AAVE) turned up from the moving averages on April 30, indicating that the sentiment has turned positive and traders are buying on dips.

The bulls will try to push the price to the $196 level, where the bears are expected to sell aggressively. If the price turns down from $196 but finds support at the 20-day EMA, the likelihood of a break above the overhead resistance increases. The AAVE/USDT pair could then travel to $220 and later to $240.

If bears want to prevent the upside, they will have to swiftly pull the price below the moving averages. If they can pull it off, the pair may collapse to $130.

The pair is facing selling near $180, but a positive sign is that the bulls have maintained the price above the moving averages. If the price turns up from the moving averages and breaks above $180, the pair could accelerate toward $196. There is minor resistance at $190, but it is likely to be crossed. 

Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down and breaks below the 50-SMA, it suggests that the bulls are booking profits. That may pull the price down to $155 and subsequently to $150.

Related: Ethereum nears key Bitcoin price level that last time sparked 450% gains

Render price prediction

Buyers tried to push Render (RNDR) above the $4.87 resistance on May 2, but the bears held their ground.

The price has reached the 20-day EMA ($4.31), where the bulls are likely to mount a strong defense. If the price bounces off the 20-day EMA, it increases the possibility of a break above $4.87. If that happens, the RNDR/USDT pair could pick up momentum and climb to $6.20.

This positive view will be negated in the near term if the price continues to slide and breaks below the $4.22 support. That opens the doors for a fall to the 50-day SMA ($3.80) and, after that, to $3.55.

Sellers have pulled the price to the $4.22 support, which is an important support to watch out for. If the price rebounds off $4.22 with strength, it signals a possible range formation in the near term. The pair may swing between $4.22 and $4.87 for some time. A break and close above $4.87 indicates the resumption of the up move toward $5.52.

On the contrary, if the price continues lower and breaks below $4.22, it suggests that the bears are attempting a comeback. The pair may decline to $3.88.

Fetch.ai price prediction

Fetch.ai (FET) turned down from the $0.84 overhead resistance and has reached the 20-day EMA ($0.65).

The bulls will try to arrest the pullback at the 20-day EMA. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA with force, the FET/USDT pair could reach the $0.84 level. A break and close above $0.84 opens the doors for a possible rise to $1.09.

Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will try to pull the price below the 20-day EMA. If they manage to do that, the pair could fall to the 50-day SMA ($0.54), where the buyers are expected to step in.

The pair has reached the crucial support at $0.67. If the price rebounds off $0.67, the bears will try to halt the relief rally at the moving averages. If the price turns down from the moving averages and breaks below $0.67, it suggests that the bulls have given up. That could drag the pair down to $0.60.

Alternatively, a break above the moving averages signals demand at lower levels. That suggests a possible range formation between $0.67 and $0.80. The uptrend could resume on a close above $0.80.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.