How Blockchain Analysis Can Help Recover Stolen Crypto

In the ever-changing landscape of decentralized finance and the wider Web3 sphere, security is a top priority. With the constant emergence of new threats, it is crucial to analyze attack patterns to assess risk and reliability. Cointelegraph’s Crypto Hacks database indicates that almost $1 billion worth of crypto was stolen or lost in 2023 alone.

In response to the increasing need for security, a wide range of Web3 security specialists has emerged, from smart contract auditors to decentralized identification solutions, guaranteeing the security of an ever-evolving digital landscape. Yet, a persistent menace continues: the Lazarus Group, a North Korea-affiliated hacking organization. In 2023 alone, the group was accountable for confirmed losses exceeding $291 million, with the latest attack on crypto exchange CoinEx causing losses of almost $55 million.

In another noteworthy instance, the person responsible for the July 30 Curve Finance hack, which caused more than $61 million in crypto losses, has reimbursed Curve Finance and Alchemix Finance for about $8.9 million in cryptocurrency. Surprisingly, the attacker wanted to protect the integrity of the exploited protocols rather than avoid being apprehended. Utilizing a reentrancy issue, the attack impacted multiple pools, including the alETH-ETH pool from Alchemix Finance, the pETH-ETH pool from JPEG and the sETH-ETH pool from Metronome.

Even though the refunded money only makes up 15% of the total amount taken, this event brings to light the complex moral and incentive dynamics in the cryptocurrency industry in the wake of security breaches. This also underscores the need for individual crypto holders and enthusiasts to equip themselves with the skills required to analyze and safeguard their digital assets. Blockchain analysis thus becomes an indispensable investigative tool that makes it possible to examine blockchain transactions and track down the trail of cryptocurrency that has been stolen. It involves several steps, including transaction tracing, address clustering, behavioral analysis and regulatory vigilance, as well as pattern recognition aided by historical data and known attack patterns.

While blockchain analysis stands as one of the best investigators’ essential tools, open-source intelligence (OSINT) complements it, offering a broader perspective on entities and individuals linked to a hack. OSINT employs tools such as Breadcrumbs, Ethective, Tenderly, Nansen and Etherscan aid investigators in gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the situation.

Combining OSINT with blockchain analysis can construct a holistic view of the hack, potentially unmasking the culprits and facilitating the recovery of stolen assets. Major exchanges such as Coinbase Global Inc. (NASDAQ: COIN) have to set up meticulously robust cybersecurity measures so that their millions of users don’t suffer losses occasioned by hackers.

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