Summary Points
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Massive Hack Impact: Bybit’s hot wallet was breached while executing a legitimate transfer, resulting in the theft of approximately $1.5 billion in primarily ETH, significantly impacting cryptocurrency prices and sparking community debate.
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Calls for Ethereum Rollback: Prominent figures like Arthur Hayes and Samson Mow advocate for a rollback of Ethereum’s chain to restore stolen funds, citing historical precedents of similar actions after significant hacks.
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Complex Risks of Rollback: Rolling back Ethereum poses substantial risks, including erasing legitimate transactions and undermining blockchain immutability, with experts highlighting the complexities far surpassing previous instances.
- Lack of Official Consensus: As discussions continue, there has been no official comment from Ethereum leaders, including Vitalik Buterin, on the controversial suggestion of a rollback, leaving the community divided on the best course of action.
Arthur Hayes, Samson Mow Push for Ethereum Rollback After Major Hack
On Thursday, the cryptocurrency community reacted strongly to the largest hack in its history. Bybit’s hot wallet was compromised, leading to the theft of approximately $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency, primarily in Ethereum (ETH). The incident occurred during a legitimate transfer, drawing significant attention to the vulnerabilities in the crypto market.
In response to the hack, Arthur Hayes, former CEO of BitMEX, and Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3, urged for a rollback of the Ethereum blockchain. Hayes, a self-identified “mega ETH bag holder,” recalled a similar situation in 2016 when the Ethereum network underwent a hard fork due to The DAO hack. He argued that a rollback is necessary to restore the stolen ETH and prevent malicious actors from misusing the funds.
Mow echoed Hayes’ proposal, suggesting the rollback could also address issues with Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 1559. He noted that optimizing the deflationary burn mechanism could enhance the overall functionality of the blockchain. Mow emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “While we roll back, this is also an opportunity to adjust EIP-1559.”
However, executing a rollback presents significant challenges. Such a move would allow the Ethereum blockchain to revert to a previous state, potentially erasing legitimate transactions made after the theft. Critics raised concerns about the complexity of the Ethereum network today, which has grown significantly since the earlier hard fork.
A vocal opponent, known as Quit from YugaLabs, raised important questions regarding the implications of a rollback. He asked how many transactions would be undone and what impact this would have on stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. These complexities underscore the contentious nature of any proposed changes, as the Ethereum community grapples with the balance between security and integrity.
As of now, there has been no comment from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin or other key figures regarding the proposed rollback. The conversation around this issue highlights broader concerns within the technology development landscape of cryptocurrency, as stakeholders navigate the potential paths forward.
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