Bitcoin staking protocol b14g exploited for 97 million CORE tokens
Security & Exploits ·
Core DAO says the Core network and direct or protocol staking remain unaffected after an unauthorized withdrawal drained tokens from b14g.
The Bitcoin staking protocol b14g was hit by an exploit that drained 97 million CORE tokens, according to a report shared on X. Of that total, about 68 million CORE remain on the Core chain, while exchanges have moved to freeze roughly 9 million CORE tied to the incident.
Core DAO has stated that the underlying Core network itself is safe, and that CORE tokens staked directly or through other staking protocols are not affected by the exploit. The distinction separates the b14g protocol, where the unauthorized withdrawal occurred, from the broader Core chain infrastructure and its staking mechanisms.
In response to the breach, b14g has paused all of its contracts, a step confirmed in corroborating reporting on the incident. The pause suggests an effort to halt further unauthorized activity while the protocol assesses the scope of the exploit and the status of remaining funds.
The split between the 68 million CORE still sitting on-chain and the 9 million frozen by exchanges indicates that recovery or asset-tracing efforts are already underway, though the current status of the remainder of the drained tokens has not been detailed. It also remains unclear how the unauthorized withdrawal was carried out or whether any funds have moved beyond the reach of exchanges and on-chain tracking.
What is not yet known includes the identity of those responsible for the exploit, whether any of the frozen or on-chain tokens will be recovered or returned, and what remediation steps b14g plans to take beyond pausing its contracts. Core DAO's assurance that the base network and other staking mechanisms are unaffected has not been independently verified beyond its own statement, and further confirmation from additional sources would clarify the full scope of the incident.