Ethereum’s latest rally has generated unexpected profits for hackers who previously obtained funds through earlier exploits.
ETH’s price surge to $4,780 significantly increased the value of stolen cryptocurrencies, enabling attackers to cash out their holdings for additional million-dollar gains. This phenomenon occurred in three high-profile cases, revealing the vulnerability of DeFi protocols and the rapid appreciation of cryptocurrencies in bullish markets.
The third case involved an unidentified hacker who stole 17,412 ETH from THORChain and Chainflip in March. They initially sold the assets for $33.9 million in DAI at $1,947 per ETH, repurchased 4,957 ETH at $2,495 in June, and liquidated them this week for $22.13 million at $4,464, earning a profit of $9.76 million.
These three incidents are part of an 18-month period marked by high vulnerability in crypto market security. In the first half of 2025, attacks and fraud resulted in losses of $3.1 billion, while in 2024 the total reached $1.49 billion. The liquidation data was obtained from on-chain information published by EmberCN.
The situation underscores the urgent need to strengthen security mechanisms in decentralized protocols and crypto custody solutions, as even stolen funds can generate million-dollar profits when prices rise rapidly
