Seneca Hacker Returns $5.3M to Protocol After Negotiations

Seneca Protocol recovers 80% of the funds it lost in Wednesday’s exploit.

Man in mask happily presenting a briefcase of cash.
Created by Gabor Kovacs from DailyCoin
  • Seneca Protocol has recovered some of the funds it lost in a recent exploit.
  • The funds were returned after the protocol offered a bounty.
  • The attacker moved the remaining funds to new addresses.

The hacker behind the Seneca Protocol exploit on Wednesday has returned 80% of funds stolen during the security breach, on-chain data shows.

On February 28, an attacker compromised a vulnerability in the protocol and stole $3 million in digital assets before transferring another 1,000 ETH to two externally owned accounts. This escalated the estimated loss to over $6 million.

Following the exploit, the Seneca team reached out to the attacker, offering a bounty in exchange for the return of the stolen funds.

Hacker Heeds Seneca’s Call

In a February 29 X (Twitter) post, the Seneca team wrote a message to the attacker, urging them to return the stolen funds and keep 20% as a bounty for their “efforts.”

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“We are collaborating with third-party security providers and law enforcement to trace the funds and identify recipient wallets. Acting promptly is crucial, so we kindly request that you return the funds as soon as possible to avoid any further legal action,” the team wrote.

Hours after Seneca shared the message on X and on-chain, the hacker returned 1,537 ETH, worth around $5.3 million, to the Ethereum address specified by the team. The restitution happened in three transactions, two amounting to 500 ETH each and one transfer of 537 ETH.

The Seneca team activated the recipient address of the transfers on February 29, and as of press time, it held 1,536 ETH, worth about $5.4 million.

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Moments after the funds were returned, the exploiter’s address shifted 300 ETH in two transactions to two new external wallets. The moved ETH equals the 20% bounty the Seneca team offered the attacker.

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This article is for information purposes only and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein shall be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading forex, cryptocurrencies, and CFDs pose a considerable risk of loss.

Author
Brian Danga

Brian Danga, a Kenyan crypto reporter, is dedicated to delivering breaking news and updates from the cryptocurrency world. With a background as a Web3 writer and project manager, he recognizes the importance of unbiased reporting. Holding an LLB degree from the University of Nairobi, Brian's analytical skills contribute to his accurate news reporting. His personal interests include cooking, watching documentaries, reading, and engaging in intellectual discussions.