Cypher Protocol Contributor Admits To Gambling Away Recovered Exploit Funds

As an analyst with extensive experience in the crypto industry and a background in psychology, I find Hoak’s actions to be both disappointing and heartbreaking. The misappropriation of funds recovered from an exploit is a betrayal not only to the Cypher community but also to the team that worked tirelessly to secure those funds.


As a researcher, I’ve come across some troubling news regarding two contributors to the Solana-based decentralized exchange, Cypher. Hoak, one of the contributors, admitted publicly to misappropriating and wagering funds that were previously recovered following an exploit in the protocol. I was surprised to learn that Barrett, another contributor, had detected Hoak’s suspicious activity. In total, Hoak withdrew various cryptocurrencies such as ETH, WSOL, and BONK through 36 separate transactions from Cypher’s redemption contract.

As an analyst, I’d rephrase it this way: In setting up this contract, its purpose was clearly defined to enable users in recovering stolen assets from the exploit. The estimated sum, around $260,000, that Hoak managed to take, according to The Block’s calculations based on current cryptocurrency prices, has left the community in disbelief. Particularly noteworthy is the fact that considerable resources had been invested post-exploit to retrieve and safeguard these funds.

Community Reaction and Hoak’s Confession

When Barrett discovered the unauthorized transactions, he promptly notified the authorities about the issue. In a straightforward social media update, Hoak confessed to the charges, admitting that the claims were accurate and that he alone had misused the recovered funds for gambling.

Hoak openly shared that his behavior was fueled by a deteriorating mental condition and an uncontrolled gambling habit which had gone untreated. He disclosed that his mental health problems had worsened over the past year, leading to considerable chaos in both his personal and professional spheres. Hoak’s confession offered insight into his hardships, such as drifting away from loved ones, missing deadlines, and displaying unusual behaviors.

Exploit Background and Financial Impact

Back in August 2023, an exploit on Cypher led to significant losses – specifically, 38,530 SOL and 123,184 USDC, amounting to over $1 million based on reports. In reaction, the Cypher team acted promptly, managing to halt the flow of $600,000 worth of stolen funds on centralized exchanges. To aid users in regaining their lost assets, the team established a redemption contract.

After Hoak’s actions, Barrett felt deep disappointment and shock, as Hoak was a crucial member in the team working to restore the project following the exploit. However, the betrayal of trust came to light when a user reported troubles withdrawing funds from the redemption contract. Despite Hoak’s promises that the issue would be addressed, the user persisted in encountering problems. As a result, Barrett delved deeper into the matter and ultimately discovered the misappropriation.

As a researcher delving into the Hoak incident, I aim to grasp not only his motivations and actions but also the community’s response and the context surrounding the exploit. This holistic perspective enables me to fully appreciate the challenges Cypher encountered and the profound impact of the trust violation within their team.

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2024-05-15 13:49