The Cardano (ADA) network experienced a brief chain split. A faulty transaction during ADA delegation triggered a code bug that has been reported to have existed for years, causing some nodes to switch to different chains.
However, the network did not stop at any point, the original chain remained “canonical” and there was no need for retroactive editing or central intervention on the ledger.
Founder Charles Hoskinson announced that the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had become involved in the incident. The development also received a sense of humor from the community, with some users commenting that the chain split “didn’t notice because no one uses it,” which became a trending topic on social media.
Hoskinson, noting Cardano’s unexpected resilience, said, “Cardano is working so fast that we forked it, fixed the issue, and found the attacker all in the same day.” According to Hoskinson, the attacker was active in the “Fake Fred” Discord group and is believed to have been personally motivated.
The community member who identified himself as the attacker apologized in a lengthy statement. He explained that he initiated the erroneous operation as a “personal technical test,” then relied on AI guidance to block all network traffic on his Linux server. His experiment on the mainnet instead of the testnet led to the chain split. “I had no malicious intent, no financial gain, and I did not sell ADA or take a short position,” the user said, adding that he was “horrified” when he realized the magnitude of the consequences and would accept any potential sanctions.
Experts say the incident is considered one of the most challenging tests proof-of-stake networks can face. On many blockchains, a similar attack would have required a centralized response, a chain reset, or a significant loss of funds. Cardano’s automatic recovery within hours and the preservation of past blocks unchanged serve as a prime example of the network’s resilience.
*This is not investment advice.