Cobo founder DiscusFish has said that the new iPhone 17 introduces a new Memory Integrity Enforcement (MIE) feature that boosts crypto wallet security.

The system is designed to block advanced memory attacks during crypto wallet signing by combining hardware and software protections.

Why It Matters for Crypto Users

Apple shared in a September 9 blog post that MIE is powered by the A19 chip and uses Enhanced Memory Tagging Extension (EMTE), which checks memory in real-time. This setup instantly blocks common exploits such as buffer overflows and use-after-free attempts.

For the crypto industry, this is important because memory flaws account for nearly 70% of all software vulnerabilities and are a common entry point for malware during wallet operations. Signing processes have always been a top target for hackers, as a single weak spot can lead to the theft of funds.

Apple’s new MIE steps in by stopping these attacks at the hardware level before they can cause damage. Shutting down these threats early makes wallet signing much safer and harder for spyware to steal assets. Another benefit is that protections are always on, meaning users do not need to set up anything themselves. DiscusFish called the feature “a major win for high-net-worth crypto users and frequent signers.”

Apple has also addressed side-channel risks with a function called Tag Confidentiality Enforcement (TCE), which prevents attackers from exposing memory tag values through speculative execution or other ways. This closes another pathway often used by hackers to get wallet data.

The company’s security team confirmed that MIE was tested against real-world exploit chains, with most attacks stopped in their earliest stages. This reduces the opportunities for bad actors to compromise software.

Additionally, the protections go beyond Apple’s native tools. Developers can also enable these features through Enhanced Security settings in Xcode, allowing crypto apps outside Apple’s ecosystem to benefit from the same defense model.

iPhone 17 Sets New Standard for Wallet Safety

Overall, the new iPhone 17 reduces the risk of spyware targeting private keys by combining typed memory allocators, tag checks, and confidentiality safeguards. This means that digital asset owners can reduce reliance on external hardware wallets or specialized devices for everyday signing.

Elsewhere, a recent report from Web3 security firm CertiK revealed that more than $2.1 billion has already been lost to crypto-related attacks in 2025. Wallet breaches account for the bulk of these losses, with compromised apps alone responsible for $1.6 billion. The company added that this makes them the most damaging attack vector by a wide margin.

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There’s just one week left until the biggest event in Apple’s yearly calendar: the launch of the latest iPhone models. But some expert pundits have opined that the peripheral devices that launch alongside the iPhone 17 may actually be more exciting. The Apple Watch Series 11 and AirPods Pro 3, both of which are expected to land this month, have the potential to wow the market with upgrades and new features.

Sadly, however, a last-minute report indicates that one of the more highly anticipated features won’t be ready in time for the AirPods Pro 3 launch. According to an anonymous tipster who got in touch with 9to5Mac, live translation isn’t on the cards to be available out of the box.

On the plus side, it doesn’t appear that the feature has been abandoned, only that it’s been delayed. What’s more, the tipster says live translation “will likely be added in a later software update.” Apple has already announced that live translation in the Phone, Messages, and FaceTime apps is a major part of the iOS 26 update, but has thus far left AirPods out of the conversation.

So you’ll reportedly be able to buy the AirPods Pro 3 at launch, enjoy the other improvements, then benefit later when the feature drops as part of a free update. On the other hand, some customers may have been burned last year when they bought the iPhone 16 on the strength of Apple Intelligence features that were expected to land in an update, but were repeatedly delayed and, in some cases, still haven’t arrived.

Even if live translation doesn’t make the launch slate, the AirPods Pro 3 should still have plenty to offer. Aside from a new chip, improved noise cancellation, and a stylish redesign (including a new-look charging case), the new headphones will get two new health sensors, according to the tipster: heart rate and temperature. Both of which would fit in well as Apple looks to pivot the AirPods to a more rounded and health-focused wearable.

The iPhone 17 and Apple Watch Series 11 will be announced at the “Awe Dropping” September 9, likely alongside the AirPods Pro 3, though some reports suggest they may have to wait until later in the fall. Either way, you can catch all the latest news and rumors in our regularly updated new AirPods hub article.

Early last year, Apple made the bold, court-mandated decision to remove the blood-oxygen feature from the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the U.S. over a patent dispute with medical technology company Masimo. Since then, all new watches (including the Series 10, which launched several months later) have shipped with the sensor disabled, eliminating a feature available since the Series 6.

Now, Apple has re-enabled the blood oxygen feature for Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, and Ultra 2 users. In a press release titled, “An update on Blood Oxygen for Apple Watch in the U.S.,” Apple says, “Users with these models in the U.S. who currently do not have the Blood Oxygen feature will have access to the redesigned Blood Oxygen feature by updating their paired iPhone to iOS 18.6.1 and their Apple Watch to watchOS 11.6.1.”

Apple says the update, which arrived Thursday, was enabled by a recent U.S. Customs ruling. To apply the update, open Settings on your iPhone and go to General > Software Updates and follow the prompts. After your iPhone has updates, open the Watch app on your iPhone and select General > Software Update, then follow the instructions to update your Apple Watch.

The new feature will now measure and calculate sensor data on the paired iPhone, and results can be viewed in the Respiratory section of the Health app. Previously, users could take a blood oxygen measurement at any time with the Blood Oxygen app as well as track occasional background measurements. It’s not clear whether this update will take away the ability to take instant readings on the watch.

Older watches that still have the blood-oxygen feature enabled will not be affected by the update, Apple says.