Nike Inc has submitted a trademark application for the word ‘cryptokicks’, signalling it may be gearing up to launch its own digital currency and a host of cryptocurrency related products.

The application , filed on April, 19, outlines how the company‘s proposed digital currency could be used by an online community. The document also describes an online footwear and clothing marketplace, as well as “a website featuring technology that enables users to mine, earn, purchase, receive by any other means, store, and transfer blockchain-based tokens, coins, cryptocurrencies, and other crypto assets.”

Nike’s application comes amid a company wide effort to focus on its digital footprint. The American multinational is seemingly focusing on e-commerce and mobile sales as part of a business strategy that places specific emphasis on launching products to market at greater speed and fostering greater connections with consumers.

Just last month, Nike said its digital business drew in more than $1 billion in quarterly sales for the first time – representing a 36 percent rise when compared to the same time period last year.

The corporation also recently submitted an application to trademark “footware,” a combination of the words “footwear” and “software.”

At this point, not much is known about Nike’s plans, but trademark lawyer Josh Gerben told Biz Journal , the application proved the company was seriously considering cryptokicks.

“There has to be somewhat of a business idea behind it,” he noted. “If you submit things just for the purpose of submitting things, it will tie up the trademark system unnecessarily. Nike does not have a history of filings that are speculative.”

The lawyer explained competitors would now have 30 days to counter the application, which would also be reviewed by The US Patent and Trademark Office.

If Nike gets the green light, it will obtain rights over the cryptokicks name for four years but will have to launch a commercial product under that name in order to fully get the trademark.

I’m not sure about you, but this feels super gimmicky to me and let’s be honest: who wants to live in a world where almost every multinational corporation has its own digital currency? I definitely don’t.

On the other hand, who can blame these multinational corporations for wanting to stay at the forefront of innovation?

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North Korean hackers are targeting cryptocurrency traders with fake software

North Korean hacking outfit “Lazarus” is now targeting cryptocurrency exchanges. Information security firm Kaspersky Labs has discovered it is exploring new attack vectors and trojanizing cryptocurrency software.

Kaspersky Labs has been tracking Lazarus for over a year. Back in April, it made its investigations public with research proving that the hacker crew had managed to steal $81 million from a Bangladeshi bank.

Now, Lazarus is tricking unsuspecting users into downloading cryptocurrency-related software laced with malware. Research posted to Kaspersky’s media outlet, Securelist , reads:

Its primary function is to load the malware suite ‘FallChill’ onto machines while opening a series of backdoors. Computers infected with FallChill can be controlled remotely and should be considered completely compromised.

The use of such malware has become the calling card of Lazarus. It should be noted that US-CERT claims the North Korean government has used FallChill against political enemies extensively in the past. US-CERT has another name for the crew, HIDDEN COBRA, which it uses rather than ‘Lazarus.’

Until quite recently, hackers have been content with targeting Windows-based machines. This has led to a belief that macOS and Linux operating systems are more secure, with less instances of viruses, malware, and related hacks.

Lazarus is looking to exploit this complacency by distributing malware for macOS and soon Linux. Kaspersky’s research warns that this “should be a wake-up call for users of non-Windows platforms.”

On the surface, Celas Trade Pro really does appear to be kosher. It certainly looks like an all-in-one cryptocurrency trading application, an interface for making trades and reading market data.

What’s interesting here is that this doesn’t appear to be an attempt to steal cryptocurrency directly. Instead, the hackers appear to be looking to disrupt supply chains and businesses in any way they can. Or in this case, by leveraging the increased popularity of cryptocurrency trading. If people in positions of power download the software, the integrity of their businesses would become but a plaything for Lazarus.

K aspersky isn’t sure which came first – Celas Limited, who released Celas Trade Pro, or the hackers. The research indicates that the domain was purchased using cryptocurrency; it also notes the site uses poor security certificates. Kaspersky further points out that the headquarters of Celas Limited is really just a ramen shop in Chicago.

It goes deeper: when they tracked the address of a company listed in Celas Trade Pro’s digital signatures, it led directly to an address in, well, the middle of nowhere .

There’s a strong chance that it’s all one big ruse – a fake company with a fake cryptocurrency tool riddled with backdoors . Kaspersky do note, though, that despite all the red flags and the information uncovered, there is not enough proof that the website, company, or application were originally created with malicious intent.

“This should be a lesson to all of us and a wake-up call to businesses relying on third-party software. Do not automatically trust the code running on your systems,” Kaspersky warns in its conclusion. “Neither good looking website, nor solid company profile nor the digital certificates guarantee the absence of backdoors. Trust has to be earned and proven. Stay safe!”

Nobody wants a Bitcoin ETF because cryptocurrency ‘has no intrinsic value’

We’re going to have to take a step back and rethink the whole “ Bitcoin exchange traded funds (ETFs) are coming” trope.

In February earlier this year, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) put out a solicitation request opening the floor for the public to comment and provide their thoughts on the possibility of allowing a regulated and recognized Bitcoin ETF. Since then, seven letters of comment have been made publicly available.

Most people that actually responded to the Securities and Exchange Commission‘s (SEC) request for public input into a Bitcoin ETF really aren’t too fond of the idea. All but one of the seven letters are vehemently against the idea that any form of Bitcoin ETF be approved.

One respondent, Sam Ahn , goes to great lengths to explore how Bitcoin has no intrinisic value. Stating that the “complicated mathematical equation” used in the mining process is not as complicated as Satoshi Nakamoto implied in their seminal white paper.

Most other respondents, while far more concise, follow a similar argument to Ahn. They claim that Bitcoin‘s inherent value is dubious and should not form part of a digital asset based ETF, such as the Van Eck or Bitwise tools.

While still strongly against the idea of a Bitcoin ETF, D. Barnwell asks the SEC to “watch and wait.” They say now is not the time for a Bitcoin ETF, but suggest there may be a financial future in which blockchain plays a pivotal role.

One member of the public did speak in favor of a Bitcoin ETF though, claiming that Bitcoin is fast, low-cost, resistant to manipulation and money laundering.

That said, there are cases of cryptocurrency-based money laundering . And Bitcoin transaction fees fluctuate as widely as the value of the coin itself. In January 2018, when Bitcoin‘s price was at its highest, fees were well over $30 per transaction.

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