Recently, Jeff “Jihoz” Zirlin, the co-founder of Axie Infinity, fell victim to a security breach that resulted in an $8 million loss from two of his personal Ethereum addresses on Ronin. The breach was brought to light by the web3 security firm Ancilia, Inc., who noticed the unusual withdrawal of over 2,790 Ethereum from Jihoz’s accounts. The crypto was then transferred to three addresses and subsequently deposited to Tornado. Ancilia pointed out that the breach seemed more likely due to a leaked private key, rather than an exploit to the bridge, as the messages were signed correctly.
Jihoz later confirmed the breach through a personal statement on social media, emphasizing that the attack solely targeted his personal accounts and had no impact on the validation or operations of the Ronin blockchain. He sought to reassure the community that the leaked keys were not in any way connected to Sky Mavis operations. Axie Infinity’s COO, Aleksander Larsen, also stepped in to affirm the safety of the network, stating that the bridge was secure, had undergone several audits, and automatically paused transactions when large amounts were being withdrawn.
Moving Forward
Despite the significant setback, Jihoz expressed his determination to move forward and deal with the aftermath of the breach. He thanked those who reached out to him and assured everyone of his safety. Despite the ordeal, Jihoz seemed resolute in his ability to overcome the challenges presented by the security breach, echoing a sense of resilience that he had shown in the face of adversity before.
Following the incident, the market responded with some fluctuations in the prices of Ethereum and Ronin tokens. At the time of writing, Ethereum was trading at $2,955, showing a slight increase of 0.75% over the past 24 hours and 3.79% from a week ago. The stolen Ethereum, valued at $8.24 million, reflected the impact of the breach on Jihoz’s personal finances. Meanwhile, Ronin tokens (RON) experienced significant fluctuations over the past month, starting at $2.27, rallying up to $3.49, facing a correction down to $2.40, and finally settling at $2.97. Despite the volatility, the token saw a monthly increase of 31.52%, indicating resilience in the face of market turmoil.
By analyzing the aftermath of the security breach that affected Jihoz and Axie Infinity, it becomes evident that even prominent figures in the crypto industry are not immune to security risks. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of stringent security measures and vigilance in the face of potential threats. As the crypto space continues to evolve, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize security and continuously adapt to emerging risks to safeguard their assets and networks.
