Top Highlights
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Cetus Exchange Exploit: Over $260 million was stolen from Cetus, a DEX on the Sui blockchain, following a significant security breach.
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Asset Movement: The attacker converted stolen assets into USDC and bridged roughly $60 million to Ethereum, purchasing 21,938 ETH for $58.3 million.
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Market Impact: The exploit caused drastic declines in Sui-based token values, with assets like LBTC and AXOL nearly collapsing, while tokens like LOFI and HIPPO lost over 80%.
- Response Measures: Cetus paused its smart contracts and launched an internal investigation, with support from Binance indicated through a tweet by CEO CZ.
Cetus Protocol Exploited for Over $260 Million, Investigation Underway
Cetus, a decentralized exchange on the Sui blockchain, faces a significant crisis. Reports indicate that hackers have exploited the protocol, stealing more than $260 million in assets. On-chain investigator Lookonchain confirmed the breach, highlighting critical vulnerabilities in the system.
Transitioning from the theft, the attacker swiftly converted stolen assets into USDC. Additionally, they bridged around $60 million to Ethereum, exchanging it for Ether (ETH). Lookonchain noted that the exploiter has already spent approximately $58.3 million USDC to buy over 21,900 ETH, averaging $2,658 per token.
Consequently, this exploit led to a sharp decline in several Sui-based tokens on Cetus. Tokens like LBTC and AXOL have nearly lost all their value. Furthermore, others such as LOFI, HIPPO, and SQUIRT plummeted by over 80% within just six hours, according to data from DEX Screener.
In response, Cetus acknowledged the exploit on its official X account. The team has paused its smart contracts to ensure safety and initiated an internal investigation. They stated, “There was an incident detected on our protocol. Our smart contract has been paused temporarily for safety. The team is investigating the incident at the moment. A further investigation statement will be made soon. We are grateful for your patience.”
Meanwhile, speculation from Onchain Lens suggests that the attacker may have taken control of all SUI-denominated liquidity pools prior to executing the drain. In light of this, Binance founder CZ tweeted support for the Sui team, emphasizing the collaborative effort within the crypto community during crises.
This incident highlights vital lessons for the tech development landscape, particularly in blockchain security. As decentralized systems gain traction, their vulnerabilities become more pronounced. However, proactive measures and community support could pave the way for future innovations and strengthened defenses.
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