Ethereum automated market maker Balancer exploited for nearly $900,000
Ethereum automated market maker and decentralized finance protocol Balancer confirmed that it was exploited for almost $900,000. The exploit occurred just days after the protocol disclosed a vulnerability that affected multiple pools. The attacker’s Ethereum address was revealed, and they received two transfers of Dai stablecoin, bringing their total balance to over $893,978. Balancer’s team stated that while mitigation measures had reduced risks, affected pools could not be paused, and users must withdraw from them to prevent further exploits.
Key Points:
- Balancer disclosed a critical vulnerability on Aug. 22, urging users to withdraw funds from liquidity providers and pausing pools to mitigate damage.
- Assets deployed on various networks, including Ethereum and Polygon, were at risk.
- Only 1.4% of Balancer’s total assets were initially at risk, representing over $5 million.
- By Aug. 24, $2.8 million, or 0.42% of the total value locked, remained at risk.
- Balancer advised users to migrate to safe pools or withdraw funds from at-risk pools.
Balancer’s protocol was deployed on the Optimism network in June last year, aiming to enhance user functionality and reduce fees.
Hot Take:
The recent exploit and vulnerability disclosure highlight the ongoing risks in the decentralized finance space. Users must remain vigilant and follow protocols’ recommendations to protect their funds. While decentralized finance provides opportunities for innovation and financial freedom, it also requires users to take responsibility for their own security.