Justin Sun-linked Heco bridge and HTX exchange targeted in $100+ million crypto attack Justin Sun-linked Heco bridge and HTX exchange targeted in $100+ million crypto attack
This incident represents the third major compromise of a Justin Sun-linked platform recently.
2 min read
Updated: Nov. 22, 2023 at 1:34 pm UTC
Cover art/illustration via CryptoSlate. Image includes combined content which may include AI-generated content.
Crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun confirmed that two platforms linked to him, the HTX exchange and Heco bridge, suffered an attack, saying:
“HTX and Heco Cross-Chain Bridge Undergo Hacker Attack. HTX Will Fully Compensate for HTX’s hot wallet Losses. Deposits and Withdrawals Temporarily Suspended. All Funds in HTX Are Secure, and the Community Can Rest Assured. We are investigating the specific reasons for the hacker attack. Once we complete the investigation and identify the cause, we will resume services.”
Blockchain security firm Cyvers Alerts estimated that the loss from the attack is more than $100 million. Meir Dolev, Cyvers Alerts’ chief technological officer, said:
“We are detecting multiple suspicious transactions on HTX_Global hot wallets and on HECO_Chain bridge that were probably executed by the same entity, total value of $100 million.”
The hack
According to multiple reports from blockchain security firms, Heco Bridge appears to have been drained of $87 million.
On-chain security firm CertiK reported the suspicious transfer of $87 million from the Heco bridge, adding that the funds were split into multiple wallets.
Another security firm, PeckShield, corroborated the outflow, saying that the incident was linked to a compromised operator, which has been operational since October last year.
The stolen assets include $346,994 TUSD stablecoin, more than 40,000 units of Chainlink’s LINK (over $600,000), $619,000 USDC, and 173,200 units of Uniswap’s UNI token (approximately $931,000).
Other assets involved in the theft are nearly 350 million SHIB tokens worth $2.8 million, 489 Heco-Peg Bitcoin valued at $18.8 million, $42 million USDT, and more than 10,000 ETH worth approximately $19 million.
Cyvers Alerts stated that all stolen assets have been converted to Ethereum and distributed to different externally owned accounts (EOAs).
The security firm added that HTX’s hot wallet appears to have been compromised by the same attacker, with $12.4 million moved from the platform.
Meanwhile, this attack represents the third major compromise of a Sun-linked platform recently. Earlier in the month, CryptoSlate reported that Poloniex, a crypto exchange purchased by the crypto entrepreneur in 2019, suffered a $100 million hack.
Before then, HTX was exploited for $7.9 million in September. However, the attacker returned all of the assets siphoned from the platform.
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Author 
Oluwapelumi Adejumo
Oluwapelumi values Bitcoin's potential. He imparts insights on a range of topics like DeFi, hacks, mining and culture, underlining transformative power.
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In this article
Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that enables the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps).
Bitcoin
$97,633.11
Bitcoin, a decentralized currency that defies the sway of central banks or administrators, transacts electronically, circumventing intermediaries via a peer-to-peer network.
Chainlink
$14.4238
Chainlink is a decentralized oracle network that connects smart contracts on the blockchain to real-world data.
Uniswap
$8.71031
Since its inception, the Uniswap Protocol (“Uniswap”) has served as a trustless and highly decentralized financial infrastructure.
USD Coin
$0.99971
USD Coin (USDC) is a stablecoin fully backed by the US dollar and developed by the CENTRE consortium.
Tether
$1.00036
Launched in 2014, Tether is a blockchain-enabled platform designed to facilitate the use of fiat currencies in a digital manner.
Poloniex
Poloniex is a US-based cryptocurrency exchange platform offering a wide variety of digital assets.
CertiK
Founded in 2018 by professors of Yale University and Columbia University, CertiK is a pioneer in blockchain security, utilizing best-in-class AI technology to secure and monitor blockchain protocols and smart contracts.
HTX
Huobi, a virtual asset exchange, launched a revised branding strategy on September 13, 2023, where “Huobi” will be rebranded as “HTX.” “H” stands for Huobi, “T” represents TRON with a commitment to being all in TRON, and “X” stands for the exchange.
Peckshield
PeckShield is a blockchain security and data analytics company, that offers products and services for security, privacy, and usability of the entire blockchain ecosystem.
Justin Sun has carved a name for himself as a leading figure in the blockchain sector.