Key Insights:
- Crypto hack drains over $220M as private key breach hits Drift Protocol operations.
- The attacker moved funds via the USDC bridge to Ethereum while response delays raised scrutiny.
- DRIFT price drops 42% as volume surges and market cap falls during sell-off.
A major crypto hack has struck Drift Protocol, with losses estimated at more than $220 million and some assessments reaching $285 million. The incident led to immediate operational disruptions and market reactions.
The Solana-based decentralized perpetual futures exchange confirmed it was under active attack, prompting a suspension of deposits and withdrawals.
At the same time, on-chain investigators have linked the breach to compromised administrative private keys. They did not find evidence of a smart contract failure. Their conclusion is based on observed transaction patterns and statements from security firms.
Crypto Hack Exposes Private Key Vulnerability at Drift Protocol
Drift Protocol stated that it detected unusual activity and quickly halted platform functions. The team said it was coordinating with multiple security firms, bridges, and exchanges to contain the incident. It also warned users to avoid deposits and proceed with caution as investigations continue.
On-chain data shows that the first major transfer occurred at approximately 11:06 a.m. Around 41 million JLP tokens, valued at $155 million, were moved from the Drift Vault to a wallet identified as “HkGz4K.” Shortly after, additional assets, including SOL, stablecoins, wrapped tokens, and memecoins, were transferred and distributed across multiple wallets.
Security researchers indicated that the crypto hack involved privileged access. Jiang Xuxian stated that the admin keys behind the protocol were likely compromised or leaked. In addition, blockchain analytics and alerts from PeckShield estimated total losses could reach $285 million.
Funds Bridged to Ethereum as Response Scrutiny Grows
Following the breach, the attacker reportedly converted assets into USDC and bridged funds from Solana to Ethereum using CCTP. The movement occurred over several hours during U.S. trading hours, based on on-chain observations.
On-chain investigator ZachXBT reported that large volumes of USDC were transferred without interruption during the incident. He stated that the funds were moved for hours without any intervention. The comments also referenced recent actions involving wallet freezes, further raising scrutiny of the response timing.
At the same time, Phantom wallet issued warnings to users attempting to interact with Drift Protocol. The wallet provider implemented safeguards while investigations remained ongoing. Drift Protocol reiterated that containment efforts were underway. However, it has not confirmed the exact cause of the exploit.
Market Impact of Crypto Hack Deepens as DRIFT Token Declines
The crypto hack had an immediate impact on market performance. The DRIFT token declined during the latest 24-hour trading period. According to CoinMarketCap data, the price fell to $0.03998, marking a 42.18% drop.
In addition, the market capitalization declined to $23.23 million, reflecting the price movement. At the same time, 24-hour trading volume surged by 354.49% to $37.97 million. The volume-to-market cap ratio reached 163.25%, indicating intensified short-term activity during the decline.