Poloniex Hacker Transfers $3.3M ETH to Tornado Cash

The Poloniex hacker, who stole $125 million in November, transferred 1,100 ether (ETH) valued at $3.3 million to Tornado Cash, as per Etherscan data.

This move, involving 11 batches of 100 ETH each, occurred after the funds remained idle for 178 days. Additionally, the hacker sent 501 bitcoins (BTC) valued at $32 million to an undisclosed wallet on April 30, maintaining a total of $181 million across different blockchains.

Tornado Cash, hiding crypto tokens, was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury in 2022 after use by North Korean group Lazarus, who hid $12 million from the Heco Bridge hack and funds from the $625 million Axie Infinity exploit.

A blockchain security firm, Elliptic, emphasizes the ongoing concerns regarding crypto hacks and laundering methods, especially with Lazarus’ use of Tornado Cash for laundering activities.

The substantial flow of funds from the Poloniex hacker to Tornado Cash and the linkage to Lazarus’s activities emphasize the unending challenges and risks of crypto hacks and money laundering.