**Title: Axie Infinity Co-Founder Loses $9.7 Million in ETH Hack**
**Introduction**
The co-founder of Axie Infinity, Jeff “Jihoz” Zirlin, has become a victim of hackers who stole 3248 ETH worth $9.7 million from his compromised wallets. The stolen funds were then laundered using Tornado Cash, a popular service among hackers to anonymize ownership and traceability. Blockchain security firm PeckShield disclosed the details of the hack, while Zirlin confirmed the loss. It remains unclear how the hackers gained control of the wallets. This incident highlights the importance of robust security measures in the crypto space.
**Axie Infinity Co-Founder Targeted**
The hack was exposed through a post by PeckShield, stating that a whale wallet on the Ronin Bridge had been compromised, resulting in the theft of 3248 ETH. Aleksander Larsen, co-founder of the Ronin Network, clarified that the bridge itself was secure and not compromised. He explained that a wallet had been compromised, similar to incidents on other chains, and the funds were being transferred using Tornado Cash. Larsen emphasized that the Ronin Bridge had undergone multiple audits and had mechanisms in place to detect suspicious withdrawals.
**Zirlin Confirms Losses**
Subsequently, Jeff Zirlin, co-founder of Axie Infinity, confirmed the hack and acknowledged that two of his personal wallets had been compromised. He made it clear that the attack did not stem from any vulnerability within Sky Mavis or the Ronin Chain. Zirlin assured everyone that strict security measures were in place for all chain-related activities. Although the root cause of the hack was a compromised wallet, it remains unknown how the hackers gained control of Zirlin’s wallets.
**Stolen Funds Laundered**
PeckShield conducted an investigation on the compromised wallets and discovered that the stolen funds had been divided and transferred to three separate wallets. Eventually, the funds were funneled into Tornado Cash, a service commonly used by hackers to conceal the origins and traceability of stolen funds. This method allows hackers to make it harder for authorities and exchanges to track the flow of illicitly acquired assets. Notably, when Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen fell victim to a similar hack, Binance was able to freeze a portion of the stolen funds because the hackers did not use mixer services or decentralized exchanges to hide their identity.
**Hot Take**
🔥 Axie Infinity co-founder Jeff Zirlin has suffered the loss of $9.7 million in ETH after hackers managed to compromise two of his personal wallets. The stolen funds were then laundered using Tornado Cash, highlighting the challenges of tracking and recovering stolen cryptocurrency. This incident serves as a reminder of the constant threat posed by hackers in the crypto space and the importance of implementing robust security measures. Anyone involved in the cryptocurrency industry should remain vigilant and take necessary precautions to protect their assets. Stay safe and secure in the world of crypto! 🔐💪
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