Web3 is Going Just Great

August 12, 2025

Monero faces 51% attack

Monero, a privacy-focused blockchain network, has been undergoing an attempted 51% attack — an existential threat to any blockchain. In the case of a successful 51% attack, where a single entity becomes responsible for 51% or more of a blockchain's mining power, the controlling entity could reorganize blocks, attempt to double-spend, or censor transactions.

A company called Qubic has been waging the 51% attack by offering economic rewards for miners who join the Qubic mining pool. They claim to be "stress testing" Monero, though many in the Monero community have condemned Qubic for what they see as a malicious attack on the network or a marketing stunt.

Though Qubic has claimed to have achieved 51% of the Monero hashrate, these claims have been disputed. However, they do appear to be very close if not there already, and there have been multiple chain reorganizations — including a 6-block reorganization — suggesting that Qubic has established significant control over Monero mining.

"Qubic Claims Majority Control of Monero Hashrate, Raising 51% Attack Fears", CoinDesk [archive]
"Monero network turmoil as Qubic claims hashrate dominance", Cointelegraph [archive]

August 7, 2025

Memecoin promoters allegedly responsible for throwing sex toys at WNBA games

A group of crypto enthusiasts promoting a memecoin have claimed responsibility for a string of incidents in which neon green sex toys were thrown onto professional women's basketball courts during at least six WNBA games since July 29. The group described the stunts as coordinated "pranks" intended to draw attention to the coin, in an ecosystem where memecoin prices are often heavily tied to virality.

The incidents have been widely condemned as both dangerous and misogynistic by players, coaches, and the league, which has since implemented penalties including immediate ejection, a minimum one-year ban, and possible felony charges for offenders.

"It's super disrespectful," said Chicago Sky player Elizabeth Williams. "The sexualization of women is what's used to hold women down, and this is no different," stated coach Cheryl Reeve of the Minnesota Lynx. "The intent is to sexualize and demean the women players because they are women," wrote Glamour.

"This is empowering to every fucking crypto community to start thinking outside the box. Get creative and fucking do something that makes people actually laugh," said a member of the memecoin community, cheering the incidents for their virality and the subsequent impact on the coin price. The meme was even amplified by Donald Trump Jr., who posted to Instagram a photoshopped image of President Trump dropping one of the green sex toys off the roof of the White House and onto a group of women playing basketball below.