Bybit Hacker Moves $605M ETH—THORChain Under Fire as Crypto Heist Sparks Chaos

Bybit hacker launders $605M ETH via THORChain. FBI confirms Lazarus Group’s role. Devs quit, crackdown incoming, crypto world on edge.

The Bybit hacker is moving fast, already laundering $605M ETH (54% of stolen funds) through THORChain, a decentralized swap protocol now facing major heat. The $1.5B Bybit hack on Feb. 21 is officially the biggest crypto heist ever, with blockchain sleuths confirming North Korea’s Lazarus Group is behind it.

THORChain’s swap volume soared past $1B after the hack, but backlash came fast. A vote to block Lazarus-linked transactions got overturned, leading to core dev “Pluto” quitting and validator TCB threatening to leave if nothing changes.

Meanwhile, the FBI is stepping in, urging exchanges and validators to cut off Lazarus-linked wallets. But THORChain’s founder John-Paul Thorbjornsen says the protocol isn’t at fault, claiming no sanctioned wallets have interacted with it and blocking funds isn’t realistic.


The hacker remains with $514M ETH, and unless a change of circumstances occurs, they can continue sending money anonymously. This hack also points to an underlying issue—bad actors have the ability to take advantage of decentralized platforms since regulators are playing catch-up. Some fear that this will cause governments to squeeze the crypto tighter, especially privacy-focused platforms.

Crypto’s paying attention. Whatever happens next may reshape the landscape.

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Geth Calls on Ethereum Validators to Upgrade to Latest Version for Network Stability

Geth released an emergency update—validators running v1.15.1 need to upgrade as soon as possible to v1.15.2 or lose block rewards and fee!



Ethereum validators, pay attention—Geth recently released an emergency update! If you’re currently on v1.15.1, you must upgrade to v1.15.2 as soon as possible, or you’ll be missing out on block rewards and transaction fees!.

Why? Turns out v1.15.1 had a critical bug messing with block creation on the Ethereum mainnet. This means validators miss slots, lose rewards, and basically get rugged by their own setup. Not ideal.

The fix? Geth pushed v1.15.2 on February 17, this year, patching the issue and bringing back Discv5 and DNS peer discovery protocols, which help nodes stay connected and functional. These were accidentally disabled in v1.14.9, making this update even more crucial.

Geth devs are not kidding at all. They are seriously saying this update is required if you need to keep your validator running and you’re sure about securing your bag. Delaying can lead to lost ETH, so do not be slow—update as soon as possible.

The whole experience is a reminder that staying updated in crypto is not all hype, it is a survival. Validators, keep your software updated, or lose out in a big way!

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Ethereum Stablecoin Market Expands by $1.1B in Just One Week

Ethereum gained $1.1B in stablecoins as gas fees dropped, while Solana lost $772M. Ethereum leads with $122.9B (54.63%) dominance.



Ethereum just made a big flex in the stablecoin world, adding a massive $1.1B in USDT and USDC in just a week, while Solana took a hit, losing $772M. On-chain analytics firm Lookonchain spotted the shift, showing Ethereum gaining traction again.

For a while, Solana had been snatching some of Ethereum’s thunder, thanks to ETH’s high gas fees and congestion. But things are changing. Ethereum’s gas fees have dropped, and major upgrades are making it more efficient, bringing users and liquidity back. That’s why stablecoin supply on Ethereum is pumping again—it’s reclaiming its OG status as the top smart contract blockchain.
At the same time, Solana experienced a stablecoin supply decline of approximately $780M. The cause isn’t 100% certain, but it may be attributed to performance issues and changing user tastes. Funds may be transferring elsewhere as crypto investors seek more favorable opportunities.


According to DefiLlama, Ethereum dominates the stablecoin market with $122.9B in supply (54.63% market share), and Solana comes in second with a mere $11.58B (5.15%). These market fluctuations demonstrate yet again how quickly the crypto universe is evolving. One day a chain is on fire, the next it’s drying up. The only thing that doesn’t change? Change.

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USDT Transfers on Ethereum Become Cheaper Than on Tron

USDT transfers are now cheaper on Ethereum ($0.40) than Tron ($3.72), thanks to Ethereum’s low gas fees.

In a surprising twist, USDT transfers are now cheaper on Ethereum than on Tron. Ethereum’s gas fees have dropped to their lowest level in five years, making it a more affordable option than Tron, which was once known for having the lowest transaction fees in the blockchain world.

For example, transferring USDT from Trust Wallet costs just $0.40 on Ethereum, in comparison to $3.72 on Tron. This is a huge shift, considering it was once one of the most expensive blockchains to use due. At one point, users were paying as much as $198 per transaction on Ethereum! But now, the average gas price on Ethereum has dropped to a super-low $0.05 per transaction.

While Tron has been dominant in fee generation recently, Ethereum’s price drop could signal a shift in the DeFi ecosystem. Solana is currently leading the pack in 24-hour fee generation, with Tron and Ethereum following behind.

With gas fees now much cheaper, experts believe that Ethereum’s DeFi ecosystem could see a major recovery in the coming months, gaining back the traction it lost due to high transaction costs.

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ETH Supply Rises Back to Pre-Merge Levels

ETH supply just bounced back to pre-Merge levels, thanks to blob transactions from the Dencun upgrade, reducing ETH burns and increasing inflation.



Ethereum’s supply just shot back up to where it was before the Merge, all thanks to a surge in blob transactions. According to UltraSound.Money, ETH’s circulating supply now sits at 120,521,600, wiping out the deflationary impact the Merge once had.

Before the Dencun upgrade, Ethereum’s fee-burning system kept supply in check—users paid gas fees, and a chunk of that ETH was burned, reducing overall supply. But now, blob transactions, designed to handle massive data loads for layer 2 networks, don’t burn fees, meaning less ETH is removed from circulation. With blob transactions booming, ETH inflation is creeping up again.

Things could get even crazier with the upcoming Pectra upgrade, which plans to increase both the blob target and max limit. This would mean even more ETH flooding the market.

From supply to large-scale structural changes, Ethereum is changing big time. Just very recently, the gas limit jumped to 36 million, accommodating more transactions in each block. Furthermore, even Vitalik Buterin himself has gotten directly involved in restructuring the team at the Ethereum Foundation.

As these steps keep jolting the network, predictions regarding the future dynamics of ETH’s supply become increasingly difficult.

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Ethereum Community Backs Danny Ryan for Foundation Leadership

Ethereum holders voted overwhelmingly for Danny Ryan as Ethereum Foundation leader, sparking leadership debates despite Vitalik Buterin’s call for structured reforms.



An informal on-chain vote at votedannyryan.com has shown massive community support for Danny Ryan as the next leader of the Ethereum Foundation. A total of 296 ETH holders, collectively controlling over 50,000 ETH, participated in the gas-free vote using their wallets. An overwhelming 279 votes—about 99%—favored Ryan.

Danny Ryan, one of the key researchers behind the recent Ethereum Merge into proof-of-stake consensus from proof-of-work consensus, saw overwhelming community support. The poll was led by Ethereum contributor Fabrice Cheng in a claim for greater community involvement in the foundation’s leadership. A number of voters argued that the foundation was managed inefficiently and that the expertise of Ryan would better position Ethereum toward its long-term vision.

Ethereum co-founder Joseph Lubin has also thrown his weight behind Ryan for his energy and deep technical knowledge. But it’s an informal vote, with no mandate for change. In the other camp was Vitalik Buterin calling for patience – although more for the structured governance reforms before any transition in leadership.

Ryan himself has shown interest for the post and has revealed conversations with Buterin and other members of the foundation. But while the vote is unofficial, it does indicate building consensus within the Ethereum community for change at the top.

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Crypto Analyst Forecasts ETH Surge to $15K by 2025

Ethereum’s bullish vibes are back! Analysts say ETH will hit $15K this year, fueled by Etherealize. Hence, leadership shifts, and investor hype.



Ethereum’s been kinda down bad lately, but hey its not going down so easy either. The bullish vibes are making a comeback! Crypto analysts are now calling for ETH to hit $15K this year, which would be a 5X pump from its current price of $3,130.

So, what’s fueling this? First, Etherealize just launched—Ethereum’s new biz dev arm that’s tryna get Wall Street money flowing into ETH. It’s backed by Vitalik Buterin and could bring some serious institutional adoption. Then, there’s big leadership changes happening at the Ethereum Foundation, with Vitalik stepping in to fix inefficiencies. A stronger team means a stronger ETH.

On top of that, investors are finally paying attention again. With Bitcoin eyeing $110K, the whole market could pop off, and ETH would ride the wave. Plus, if Alt Season kicks in, ETH could go parabolic.

Right now, ETH’s holding strong at $3K support, bouncing off that level three times this month. If it stays solid, expect ETH to start climbing soon. The vibes are bullish, and this year could be Ethereum’s year!

Also Read: Dogwifhat (WIF) Pops 14% in 4 Hours – Is a Bigger Pump Coming?




https://x.com/JiriKulach/status/1884533840753967375

Ethereum Foundation Offloads More ETH as Prices Dip to $3,000

ETH slumped to $3K as the Ethereum Foundation sold 100 ETH amid market chaos, liquidations, and bearish vibes.



The crypto market’s feeling the heat, and Ethereum’s caught in the storm. ETH just tanked to $3,057, down 7.4% from its daily high of $3,434, with the Ethereum Foundation adding to the drama. They sold another 100 ETH for $307K DAI via CoW Protocol, bringing their total sales this month to over $13M.

Vibes? Bearish AF. Bitcoin took a dip to $99K yikes, and altcoins aren’t left out, most are swallowing their losses in double digits. The chaos pumped ETH trading volume up 130% in the past 24 hours, but it’s not helping. The foundation sell-off has come along as a part of a major slump, with $660 million in long and short positions being liquidated early on Jan 27.

Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation have been in the spotlight lately, especially after Vitalik announced plans to shake up the foundation’s leadership and backed Etherealize, a new institutional BD arm. But that hype hasn’t saved ETH from dipping to a crucial $3K support level.

The broader crypto market’s down 7% in 24 hours, with trading volume soaring to $153B—a 90% spike. TL;DR: It’s messy out there, and ETH isn’t catching a break.

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Ethereum Dips Under $3000: What’s Driving the Slide?

ETH tanked to $2991 amid rising U.S. bond yields, inflation fears, and whale dominance, leaving traders worried about recovery vibes.



Ethereum (ETH) just got absolutely wrecked. It somehow managed to drop by 8% to $2991 before clawing back to $3017. Traders are trolling, “Is recovery even a thing now?”

The chaos started last Friday when unexpected U.S. interest rate data hit, sparking inflation fears. The Fed might not cut rates anytime soon, so crypto investors are feeling the squeeze. Plus, the U.S. job market added 256K jobs instead of the expected 160K, signaling a strong economy. While that’s great for traditional markets, it sent U.S. bond yields soaring, making risky investments like crypto way less attractive.

Ethereum’s been in a slump, falling from $3332 to $3196, and hasn’t stopped sliding. Analysts like Ali Martinez say resistance is heavy between $3360-$3450, with support hanging at $3066-$3160. Fun fact: three whale wallets control 43% of ETH’s supply, so they’re probably low-key steering the ship.

Meanwhile, whales are still stacking ETH. One just pulled 10K ETH (around $30.7M) from Binance, while large transactions spiked 70%. But with ETH supply creeping back to pre-merge levels and tight liquidity everywhere, ETH’s struggles are real.

TL;DR: Bond yields and whale games got ETH on thin ice. Will it bounce back, or is this the start of another dip?

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Blockchain Bandit Resurfaces, Moves $172M in Stolen Ether After Two Years

The “Blockchain Bandit” moved $172M ETH after two years, exposing weak private keys and sparking crypto security concerns.

The infamous “Blockchain Bandit” is back in action, moving a massive $172 million in Ether (ETH) after a two-year break. On December 30, the hacker transferred 51,000 ETH from 10 different wallets to a single multi-signature address, consolidating the stolen funds. The transfers happened in batches of 5,000 ETH between 8:54 pm and 9:18 pm UTC.

The funds had been untouched since January 2023, when the Bandit also moved 470 Bitcoin (BTC). This hacker first made waves by using a method called “Ethercombing,” where they exploited weak private keys by guessing them with faulty code and random number generators. In total, the Bandit managed to crack 732 private keys, linked to over 49,000 transactions, according to blockchain investigator ZachXBT.

Experts in crypto security are very vocal on their concerns about the risks associated with vulnerable private key creation. Weaker random number generators can make it easy for hackers to copy keys and access wallets. The rise in bitcoin thefts coincides with the Blockchain Bandit’s comeback, with billions stolen in the last year alone.

To stop these assaults that target centralized exchanges and custodial platforms, experts are encouraging cryptocurrency users and platforms to bolster security with better key management, cold wallets, and regular system audits.

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