Cetus Protocol Offers $6M Bounty to Hacker After Exploit

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When Hackers Become the New Robin Hood: A $6M Offer You Can’t Refuse! 💰🦸‍♂️

In a dramatic twist worthy of a novel, Cetus took to the digital stage late Thursday on X, revealing that they had pinpointed the Ethereum wallet address of the elusive attacker. Negotiations are now underway to reclaim the stolen treasures, a task that seems as daunting as herding cats in a thunderstorm.

“We have identified the Ethereum wallet address controlled by the hacker… and reached out to negotiate the return of customer funds,” the team declared, as if they were summoning a genie from a bottle.

The hack, a masterclass in exploiting vulnerabilities, drained over $200 million from Cetus’ liquidity pool smart contracts. Some of the funds were swiftly transformed into USDC, then magically converted into ETH, and partially whisked away off Sui, like a magician’s disappearing act.

In a bold move, Cetus, in cahoots with Inca Digital, sent a direct message to the hacker, demanding the return of 20,920 ETH (approximately $56.3 million) along with all assets frozen on Sui wallets. Talk about a high-stakes game of digital poker!

“In exchange, you can keep 2,324 ETH (~$6M) as a bounty… and we will consider the matter closed,” the message reads, with a warning that legal action will commence if any funds are off-ramped or laundered. Because who doesn’t love a good legal drama?

Cetus also confirmed that the vulnerability has been identified and patched, like a ship mending its sails after a storm. Further measures are being taken to secure the protocol, as the incident adds yet another chapter to the ever-growing saga of DeFi exploits in 2025. It’s a race against time, as projects scramble to balance open-source innovation with the ironclad security measures that would make Fort Knox envious.

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2025-05-23 11:13