Summary:
- Hacker’s Fund Transfer: A wallet linked to the WazirX hack has transferred $6.5 million worth of stolen Ethereum (ETH) through Tornado Cash, a sanctioned crypto mixer.
- Amount Moved: The hacker moved 2,600 ETH in 26 separate transactions, each worth 100 ETH, to launder the funds.
- Timing: This transfer occurred as WazirX began allowing withdrawals ahead of its original schedule.
- Remaining Balance: The hacker’s wallet, which initially held $6.7 million, now holds just $154,000 after the transfers.
A wallet address linked to the hacker responsible for stealing over $235 million from the Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX has moved $6.5 million worth of stolen Ethereum (ETH) through the sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash. The transfer was highlighted on September 3 by Cyvers, a blockchain security platform, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
According to Cyvers, the hacker transferred 2,600 ETH, valued at $6.5 million at current market prices, to Tornado Cash in an attempt to launder the stolen funds. This move comes shortly after WazirX announced that it would allow users to withdraw funds ahead of its originally scheduled timeline.
Data from crypto tracking platform DeBank shows that the hacker’s wallet initially held $6.7 million. However, within just one hour, the hacker made 26 separate transactions, each transferring 100 ETH to Tornado Cash, leaving the wallet with only $154,000 remaining.
The use of Tornado Cash, a crypto mixing service that has been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury, underscores the lengths to which the hacker is going to obscure the origins of the stolen funds. Tornado Cash allows users to mix their tokens with others, effectively making it difficult to trace the source of the funds.
This latest development adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing efforts to recover the stolen funds and bring those responsible to justice. WazirX, which has been grappling with the fallout from the hack, recently opened up withdrawals for users earlier than expected, possibly in an effort to mitigate further damage and restore some trust among its customer base.
The hacker’s decision to launder such a significant amount of ETH through Tornado Cash so soon after WazirX’s announcement suggests an attempt to capitalize on the chaos surrounding the exchange. As investigations continue, it remains to be seen how much of the stolen funds can be recovered, and what further actions will be taken against the perpetrators.
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