WazirX Hacker Transfers Nearly $23M in Crypto to Tornado Cash So Far

Crypto Reporter

Shalini Nagarajan

Crypto Reporter

Shalini Nagarajan

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Shalini is a crypto reporter who provides in-depth reports on daily developments and regulatory shifts in the cryptocurrency sector.

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Last updated:

September 12, 2024 03:03 EDT

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The WazirX hacker has so far transferred about $23m in cryptocurrencies to Tornado Cash after the July breach that saw $234m stolen from the exchange.

On Thursday, Cyvers Alerts reported the hacker moved 5,000 ETH, worth around $11.7m, to a new address. From this, $4.7m was sent to Tornado Cash.

Earlier this week, Spot On Chain revealed the hacker transferred 5,000 ETH, worth $11.7m, to the mixing tool. Prior to this, Cyvers reported the hacker had already moved 2,600 ETH, valued at $6.5m, to the same platform.

WazirX Hacker Converted Most Stolen Assets to ETH

After the July hack, Lookonchain reported that the hacker has converted most of the stolen assets into ether (ETH). As of Thursday, the hacker’s wallet held $95.3m in cryptocurrency, with $92.3m in ETH.

The exact method of the hack is still under investigation, but early analysis from blockchain firm Elliptic suggests possible involvement of North Korean-linked hackers.

Hacker Uses Tornado Cash to Obscure Stolen Crypto Trail

Transferring the funds to Tornado Cash shows a deliberate attempt to break the link between the sender and receiver in cryptocurrency transactions. The hacker can use Tornado Cash to hide the stolen asset trail, making it much harder to trace their origin or destination. This anonymity helps avoid detection and legal consequences.

Despite its controversial standing, especially after US Treasury sanctions, Tornado Cash remains operational in many regions.

Notably, the person behind the Poloniex exchange heist, which stole over $100m, transferred $76m to Tornado Cash earlier this year.