Prosecutors seek new trial in $25M hack of Ethereum MEV bot, emphasizing cryptocurrency security threats

18.02.2025

The U.S. Attorney's Office has initiated a retrial of a $25 million theft case involving a MEV bot on the Ethereum network, highlighting ongoing security threats in the cryptocurrency industry.In February 2025, federal agencies announced their intention to seek a new trial in a case that drew attention to vulnerabilities in maximizing extractable value (MEV) mechanisms in the Ethereum blockchain. Recall that in the incident, attackers used sophisticated algorithms to intercept and redistribute transactions, resulting in one of the largest losses of funds among private investors and DeFi platforms in recent years.According to investigators, the attackers were able to exploit flaws in the architecture of smart contracts and the peculiarities of MEV bots, which allowed them to gain control over large transactions and withdraw over $25 million in assets. As a result, the initial trial did not result in a conviction, raising concerns among market participants and cybersecurity experts.Experts note that such incidents are becoming more and more frequent: last year alone, the total amount of funds lost due to attacks on DeFi protocols exceeded $2 billion. Prosecutors emphasize the need to tighten controls and develop security standards in the blockchain sphere to prevent similar crimes in the future.The new case is expected to set an important precedent for cryptocurrency regulation and increase attention to the protection of users and investors.