Kerberus expands into crypto security with acquisition of Pocket Universe for antivirus solution

Cryptocurrency security platform Kerberus has acquired Pocket Universe, a popular fraud prevention and browser extension, with the goal of building a dedicated antivirus solution for the crypto space. The acquisition comes as the need for enhanced security in the rapidly expanding digital asset ecosystem becomes increasingly urgent due to the growing threat of malware attacks.

Kerberus crypto protection with Pocket Universe integration

Kerberus, which was founded in 2023 and was formerly known as MintDefense, has acquired Refract, the developer of Pocket Universe, in a seven-figure deal. This acquisition will allow Kerberus to integrate Pocket Universe with its own security extension, Sentinel3, expanding protection to all Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains and Solana.

The firm aims to develop a crypto-specific antivirus to address one of the most pressing issues in the space: malware attacks. Kerberus co-founder and CEO, Alex Katz, emphasized the importance of this development in addressing the growing security concerns within the crypto industry.

Changes in Pocket Universe’s leadership following acquisition

Following the acquisition, Pocket Universe’s founders, Justin Phu and Nishan Samarasinghe, will step back from day-to-day operations to pursue new projects. However, they will continue to support Kerberus in its mission to secure the crypto space. The acquisition also brings Ran Neuner, founder of Crypto Banter and CEO of Onchain Capital, on board as a strategic adviser and distribution partner.

Neuner expressed his belief in Kerberus’ potential to drive crypto adoption by enhancing trust and safety for users. The future of crypto adoption depends on user trust and safety. Kerberus is the only proven team building trust at the infrastructure level, and this move accelerates their ability to reach the next million users.

Kerberus’ commitment to tackling malware in crypto

Kerberus was initially built out of necessity, with Katz and Cohen developing the platform after witnessing friends lose their life savings to scammers. Despite the company’s success in combating scams, Katz and Cohen discovered that users were still falling victim to malware and viruses, prompting the move to build a dedicated crypto antivirus.

Katz noted that, despite some products in the market marketing themselves as a “crypto antivirus,” no such solution currently exists. What it mean by antivirus is that you download a software on your device, and you’re protected. It’s the same philosophy with our extension that only needs to be installed. The upcoming antivirus product is expected to take at least four months to develop a minimum viable product (MVP), according to Kerberus’ CTO, Danor Cohen.

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Industry’s need for integrated defense layers

Industry experts like 0xWui, co-founder of blockchain security firm FailSafe, have pointed out that the crypto sector does not yet have a single “antivirus” product. Instead, there are multiple layers of defense working independently. Unlike traditional antivirus software, which can quarantine malware, the decentralized nature of crypto means that once a bad transaction is signed or funds are moved on-chain, they cannot be undone.

Users need simple protections at the wallet level; protocols need runtime defenses; and both sides need coordinated coverage to reduce the attack surface area of hackers and bad actors.

Kerberus aims to fill this gap by providing comprehensive antivirus protection for crypto users, marking a significant step forward in securing the digital asset ecosystem against evolving threats.