Gamma Strategies, an Ethereum-based asset management protocol, is currently grappling with a security breach that has led to a potential loss of 211.9 ETH.
On Jan. 4, blockchain analysis firm PeckShield identified an exploit estimated to be worth about $469,000 in an attack against Gamma Strategies.
Shortly after the decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol, Gamma, acknowledged a “potential security issue” while reassuring users that they were still able to withdraw their funds as necessary.
Two hours later, in a subsequent post on X, the company stated it would provide additional details regarding the incident once its investigation was complete.
Meanwhile, amidst the ongoing confusion, a fraudulent X account with a verified status has impersonated Gamma’s social media presence.
The imposter account sought to steer actual investors towards a phishing website while urging “all users to revoke all approvals to safeguard their funds.” Remarkably, the fake account’s post gained more traction than Gamma’s own cautionary message about the breach.
Hackers drained billions in crypto in 2023
The latest breach adds to the series of hacks that have plagued the cryptocurrency sector. In 2023, the industry suffered almost $2 billion in losses due to such incidents, with the largest hacks occurring in the year’s second half.
The Mixin platform experienced a significant blow in September, losing $200 million, and was unable to locate the attacker or retrieve the funds. However, Mixin committed to compensating users for half of their lost holdings.
Other notable breaches included a security incident at the popular crypto exchange Poloniex in November, initially reported at $33 million and later adjusted to over $120 million. The crypto gambling platform Stake also faced a $41 million theft in September.
The rise in cryptocurrency hacks in late 2023 signals a troubling trend for the industry moving into 2024, a critical year highlighted by key events such as the January launch of the spot Bitcoin ETFs and the Bitcoin halving in April.
As the industry gears up for a busy 2024, so are the hackers. Strengthening resilience across the board is essential to mitigate these widespread threats, or else the crypto industry faces a potentially expensive year ahead.
