Web3 continues to build a global audience for decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and cryptocurrency exchanges. However, as the blockchain ecosystem grows, so do the associated risks.
Unlike traditional financial institutions, Web3 lacks a centralized regulatory body, placing the responsibility to safeguard their assets on users and service providers. In a decentralized environment, a single wrong click could lead to assets being irreversibly transferred to a fraudulent wallet, trapping users in a malicious chain of transactions.
This environment has given rise to various scams and illegal schemes, including phishing attacks, hidden withdrawal mechanisms and crypto money mule operations, in which unsuspecting individuals transfer stolen cryptocurrency for criminals. A report from Chainalysis’ “Crypto Crime Report 2025” underscores the scale of these vulnerabilities, revealing that illicit transaction volume reached a staggering $51 billion in the past year.
A perfect storm for vulnerabilities
User awareness is one of the most pressing challenges. Even seasoned crypto enthusiasts can be caught off-guard by lookalike websites or tokens with hidden fees. The complexity of smart contract analysis and the speed of cryptocurrency transactions leave little room for error. This gap in user knowledge is a significant factor behind rising crypto crime rates.
To compound the issue, DeFi platforms are increasingly implementing compliance measures retroactively. This regulatory shift — once considered incompatible with the decentralized ethos — has forced many DeFi participants to rethink their strategies for managing and preventing malicious transactions.
The businesses imperative in Web3 security
While users must practice caution, businesses also hold a vital responsibility. Most people lack the tools to dissect smart contracts or assess the credibility of wallet addresses. As a result, Web3 service providers must integrate security measures that protect users without stifling the industry’s open nature. Implementing automated risk analysis and real-time transaction monitoring has become essential for companies aiming to build trust, prevent fraud and uphold the ecosystem’s integrity.
Platforms in the Web3 space can significantly reduce the incidence of scams by verifying contract legitimacy, assessing transaction histories and alerting users to potentially dangerous activities. In short, security-conscious businesses are not only doing their users a favor — they are strengthening the entire decentralized ecosystem.
Key players join forces for safer transactions
A new partnership stands as an ideal example of how to level up user protection. Crypto trading platform Changelly has taken a proactive business approach by partnering with Web3 Antivirus, an ecosystem of security solutions tailored to individual and enterprise needs.
Changelly enables users to swap over 1,000 tokens seamlessly without lengthy registration processes and complex procedures. While speed and convenience are critical, so is security.
In this collaboration, Changelly integrates Web3 Antivirus’s risk analysis capabilities directly into their platform and mobile app to help users avoid malicious interactions and ensure the safety of their transactions. The collaboration focuses on three main objectives:
- Real-time address verification – Changelly uses Web3 Antivirus to verify every wallet involved in a transaction on the platform or via the app.
- Risk alerts for users – When risks are identified, Web3 Antivirus immediately sends alerts. Changelly displays these alerts directly within their interface.
- Filtering suspicious transactions – Web3 Antivirus blocks interactions involving addresses tied to unlawful activities, preserving the integrity of Changelly’s ecosystem and safeguarding users from malicious counterparts.
Keeping users out of harm’s way
Users are constantly facing the risk of unknowingly transferring funds to suspicious wallets. However, not all of them manage to stop in time, mostly due to the lack of proper tools. While this puts user assets in danger, it also exposes platforms to malicious interactions.
Web3 Antivirus can filter out scams and spam transactions. Source: Web3 Antivirus
One real-world example highlights the impact of these features. In a recent instance, a user attempted to transfer $80,000 to a wallet flagged for terrorism financing. Web3 Antivirus identified the high-risk address and alerted the user. Without this intervention, the funds could have been flagged by KYC-compliant exchanges and resulted in asset blockage and potential compliance issues for the involved platforms.
Web3 security for businesses
The Web3 Antivirus ecosystem consists of a browser extension that warns users about potentially dangerous transactions, a dashboard for monitoring wallet health, a MetaMask Snap for in-wallet alerts and the W3A API for businesses.
W3A API in action. Source: Web3 Antivirus
Specifically for businesses, W3A’s technology provides a robust array of tools:
- Address poisoning protection to prevent accidental transfers to scam addresses.
- Wallet health checks to flag risky approvals, tokens or assets.
- Transaction filtering to remove spam or fraudulent interactions from user flows.
- Retail AML (Anti-Money Laundering) checks for an extra compliance layer beyond services like Etherscan.
- Phishing DApp detection to block malicious websites impersonating legitimate platforms.
- Security notifications for rug pulls, honeypots and other urgent threats.
- Transaction simulations that reveal hidden fees or harmful conditions before funds are sent.
By embedding these measures in their user-facing products, Web3 companies can cultivate a safer environment, reduce liability and build a reliable reputation.
The implications for broader Web3
The partnership between Web3 Antivirus and Changelly signals a shift toward integrated, proactive security solutions in the blockchain ecosystem. DeFi projects are already taking necessary steps to protect users from suspicious liquidity pools while NFT marketplaces are beginning to detect fraudulent activities and crypto exchanges are verifying incoming funds against known scam databases.
February looked a lot like January, with scammers still on the hunt to drain wallets.
— Web3 Antivirus (@web3_antivirus) March 1, 2025
Double-check approvals, be cautious of phishing links & fake airdrops, and let @web3_antivirus do the heavy lifting.
Seen any wild scams lately? Drop them 👇 pic.twitter.com/0HgkOrPQ6D
Ultimately, this benefits everyone: users enjoy safer transactions, platforms protect themselves from reputational and legal risks and the Web3 ecosystem moves toward a more transparent and secure future.
It is unrealistic to rely solely on user vigilance — it would simply not suffice in a space as dynamic and fast-paced as Web3. A more comprehensive, infrastructure-level approach is the logical next step. As illustrated by the collaboration between Web3 Antivirus and Changelly, integrating real-time risk detection and transaction filtering can significantly mitigate losses, strengthen user trust and pave the way for sustainable growth.
In the near future, users will choose platforms for their security standards aside from the usual expectations of liquidity and user experience. And those businesses that prioritize robust, integrated protections will stand out as reliable gateways to the decentralized world.
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