Key Highlights
- PeckShield flagged a $24 million crypto transfer after @sillytuna claimed he was assaulted and coerced.
- PeckShield data shows the funds moved via Aave on Avalanche and later swapped into DAI.
- Authorities are investigating as PeckShield continues tracking wallet activity linked to the case.
A trader active on X under the name @sillytuna has said he was attacked and made to send nearly $24 million in crypto after being threatened. The incident has left many in the crypto world disturbed, as it shows how having large digital assets can put someone at risk outside the online space.
Allegations of violence and coercion
In a post shared on March 4, the trader said the attackers used physical force along with threats of kidnapping and sexual assault to compel him to move funds from his wallet. He stated that police are involved and that an official investigation is underway.
The wallet in question begins with 0x6fe0…, and the assets reportedly included around $24 million worth of aEthUSDC — an interest-bearing version of USDC used within the Aave protocol on the Avalanche blockchain. The transfer took place in a single transaction and was confirmed within seconds on-chain.
On-chain tracking and fund movement
Blockchain security firm PeckShield flagged the large transaction shortly after it occurred. Initially, the firm suggested it might be an “address poisoning” attack, a scam tactic where victims accidentally send funds to malicious look-alike addresses.
However, the trader later clarified that the transfer was not accidental or due to phishing, but carried out under physical duress.
According to PeckShield’s on-chain findings, the attacker later swapped a major portion of the stolen funds, roughly $20 million, into DAI stablecoin. The converted amount was then split into two separate wallets believed to be under the attacker’s control, with approximately $10 million held in each. A small portion of the funds has already been bridged to Arbitrum, suggesting attempts to move assets across networks.
The original transfer was executed through the Aave USDC V3 pool on the Avalanche network, based on blockchain data reviewed after the incident.
A rare but serious “wrench attack”
This case has brought renewed attention to what the crypto community often calls a “wrench attack” — a situation where someone is forced to hand over their crypto not because of a technical hack, but because of direct physical threats.
In situations like this, there isn’t any code flaw or phishing scam behind it. The person is simply forced to unlock their wallet or approve the transfer themselves. Once the transaction goes through on the blockchain, it can’t be undone. That’s what makes these cases so alarming — the system isn’t hacked, the individual is.
Investigation ongoing
At present, the stolen funds are still visible on the blockchain and haven’t been run through major mixing services, which often makes tracking harder. That may give investigators a short window to trace the movement of the money.
No suspects have been named so far, and the matter is still under investigation. But, the case is a stark reminder that even though crypto wallets are secured digitally, holders of large amounts can still face real-world risks.
Also Read: US Government Makes Small Bitcoin Transfer Amid Iran war
