The Idiot’s Guide to Losing $50M in a Blink 😱💸

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Ah, the human soul! What a labyrinth of folly and despair! In a tale that could only be birthed from the depths of existential anguish, a single copy-paste error has plunged one unfortunate soul into the abyss of financial ruin. Nearly $50 million in USDt, vanished like a whisper in the wind, sent to a scam address in a classic address poisoning attack. Oh, the irony! The victim, no doubt a creature of habit, fell prey to the serpent’s hiss of deceit. 🦹‍♂️💔

According to the vigilant eyes of Web3 Antivirus, our hapless protagonist lost 49,999,950 USDt (USDT) after copying a malicious wallet address from their transaction history. A mere slip of the finger, and the gates of Hades swung open. 🖱️🔥

Address poisoning, a devilish scheme! It preys on the innocent, inserting look-alike wallet addresses into the victim’s transaction history via small transfers. When the time comes to copy an address, the unwary soul selects the imposter, blind to the trap. A tragedy, written in the stars, yet played out on the blockchain. 🕸️🤡

Onchain data, that cold and unforgiving witness, reveals the victim’s initial test transaction to the correct address. But mere minutes later, the full $50 million was sent to the poisoned address. A moment of clarity, followed by eternal regret. ⏳😵

The Devil’s in the Details: A Subtle Deception

Security researcher Cos, founder of SlowMist, remarked on the cunning of the scheme. “The first three characters and the last four characters are the same,” he wrote, a detail so subtle it could ensnare even the most seasoned traveler of the crypto wilderness. A masterstroke of evil, disguised as mere coincidence. 😈🔍

The victim’s wallet, active for two years, had been a vessel of trust, primarily used for USDt transfers. Shortly before the calamity, the funds were withdrawn from Binance, a sign of active management-or perhaps, a final act of hubris. 🏦💼

“This is the brutal reality of address poisoning,” one analyst mused, “an attack that doesn’t break systems, but exploits the very essence of human habit.” A chilling reminder of our frailty. 🧠🚫

The attacker, ever the opportunist, has since swapped the stolen USDt for Ether (ETH), splintering it into multiple wallets and partially laundering it through Tornado Cash. A thief, but a thief with style. 🌪️🤑

Crypto’s Bloody Harvest: $3.4 Billion in 2025

As CryptoMoon reported, the year 2025 has been a banquet for the wicked, with crypto-related hacks resulting in $3.4 billion in losses. The highest total since 2022, driven by a handful of colossal breaches. A feast of folly, where the unsuspecting are served as the main course. 🍴💀

Three incidents alone accounted for 69% of total losses, led by the $1.4 billion hack of crypto exchange Bybit. A single event, nearly half of all stolen funds. Oh, the grandeur of human greed! 🏛️🔥

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2025-12-20 13:21