EigenLayer, a prominent protocol on Ethereum, has fallen victim to a security breach. The official X (formerly Twitter) account of EigenLayer was compromised on October 18, leading to the dissemination of malicious phishing links. The incident has raised significant concerns within the crypto community, given the protocol's popularity and substantial total value locked (TVL).
The compromised EigenLayer account posted a fraudulent airdrop campaign, claiming to offer rewards to users eligible for a previous airdrop. However, the airdrop link redirected users to a malicious site unrelated to EigenLayer’s restaking protocol. Onchain detective ZachXBT quickly warned the community via Telegram, advising users to avoid clicking on any links shared in recent EigenLayer posts.
He emphasized, “EigenLayer X/Twitter account is currently compromised do not click any links.”
The malicious post was deleted minutes after it was published, suggesting that the attackers may have lost access to the account. Despite the quick removal, the potential damage remains significant, as many users might have already interacted with the harmful link.
EigenLayer’s rapid rise within the crypto space has made it a substantial target. Within a year of its June 2023 launch, EigenLayer amassed around $20 billion in user deposits and secured a $100 million investment from venture capital firm a16z.
The project’s popularity stems from its innovative restaking protocol, which has attracted more than 100 companies, including crypto exchange Kraken and bridge developer LayerZero Labs. However, EigenLayer’s meteoric success has not come without challenges. The project has faced criticism and controversies, including allegations of attempting to buy off influential crypto researchers.
Founder Sreeram Kannan acknowledged that the project’s rapid growth placed it at the center of significant scrutiny within the Ethereum ecosystem. As EigenLayer navigates these turbulent times, users are urged to remain vigilant and await further official updates. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of security within the rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
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