Stake DAO Association issues 72-hour white-hat recovery offer to Votemarket exploit perpetrator: return 60.7336 ETH and retain 20% bounty, or face civil and law enforcement action.
Security & Exploits ·
Stake DAO Association has issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the perpetrator of the Votemarket exploit, offering a settlement that would let them retain a 20% bounty in exchange for returning 60.7336 ETH. The on-chain message indicates the association is prepared to drop civil charges and cease pursuit if the funds are returned to a specified Ethereum address by March 21st, 2026, 10:00 UTC.
The offer comes with explicit mentions that law enforcement and blockchain forensics firms are actively involved in identifying the responsible party. The association frames the 20% retention as a white-hat bounty, a structure sometimes used to incentivize the return of stolen or misused funds while acknowledging the attacker's technical skill. Communication is facilitated through Blockscan Chat, which the message notes provides native wallet ownership verification.
The settlement's acceptance or rejection will determine whether the case escalates to formal legal action and law enforcement involvement. What remains unclear is whether the perpetrator will engage with the offer, the total amount originally taken in the exploit, or whether other victims or stakeholders have pursued separate recovery efforts.