Cork Protocol Attacker Launders 3.4M ETH in Crypto Heist

Cork Protocol Attacker Moves Millions in ETH to Tornado Cash in Apparent Post-Hack Laundering Attempt

The decentralized finance (DeFi) world continues to face complex challenges, especially in the aftermath of major exploits. Recently, on June 25, 2025, a significant event was flagged by the security firm PeckShield: a wallet address identified as "Cork Protocol Exploiter 2" executed a large transaction, moving 1,410 Ethereum (ETH) into Tornado Cash. At the current ETH price of approximately $2,446, this sum is equivalent to about $3.4 million, raising serious concerns about money laundering and the concealment of illicitly obtained assets.

1. Background of the Cork Protocol Attack

Cork Protocol, a DeFi platform, fell victim to a severe attack in May 2025, resulting in an estimated loss of $12 million. The incident was attributed to a smart contract vulnerability that allowed the attacker to manipulate prices and drain assets. Since then, the blockchain community has closely monitored the wallet addresses associated with the exploit, searching for clues about the attacker's identity or the potential recovery of the funds.

2. Tornado Cash and Its Role in Money Laundering

The transfer of funds to Tornado Cash is an unsurprising move for those familiar with cryptocurrency hacks. Tornado Cash is an Ethereum-based crypto mixer protocol that allows users to anonymize their transactions by pooling their funds with those of other users. While its primary purpose is to enhance transaction privacy, it is frequently exploited by cybercriminals to obscure the trail of stolen funds, making it extremely difficult for investigators to trace the assets.

This action by the "Cork Protocol Exploiter 2" is a near-certain confirmation of their intent to launder the money. By sending a large volume of ETH to Tornado Cash, the attacker aims to sever the link between the stolen funds and their original wallet address, complicating the investigation for law enforcement and blockchain security firms.

3. Consequences and Challenges Ahead

This latest move by the Cork Protocol attacker once again highlights the persistent security challenges within the DeFi sector. Although blockchain technology offers transparency, tools like Tornado Cash create a layer of anonymity that complicates the tracing of stolen assets.

Attacks on DeFi protocols not only cause financial damage to users and projects but also erode trust in the entire ecosystem. The blockchain community, security firms, and regulatory bodies must continue to strengthen their collaboration to develop more effective methods for preventing, investigating, and recovering assets after hacks, while also raising user awareness of security risks. The Cork Protocol incident and the subsequent use of Tornado Cash serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle between security experts and malicious actors in the volatile cryptocurrency space.