AnubisDAO: A $60 Million Rug Pull Shocks the Crypto Community
In a devastating turn of events, AnubisDAO, a newly launched cryptocurrency project, became the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. Within a mere 20 hours of its token sale, the project saw a staggering $60 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) vanish in what appears to be a classic rug pull scheme. Investors who had eagerly exchanged their ETH for the project’s native ANKH tokens were left reeling as the funds were swiftly drained from the liquidity pool.
The incident unfolded rapidly, with 13,556.36 ETH being transferred to several different wallet addresses, resulting in an immediate and significant loss for investors. As news of the rug pull spread, the price of ANKH tokens plummeted, leaving many in the crypto community shocked and searching for answers. The team behind AnubisDAO claimed to be investigating the attack vector, but suspicions quickly arose that this might have been an inside job or the result of a sophisticated phishing attack targeting a team member.
Community Response and Reward Offer
In the wake of the incident, the crypto community rallied to uncover the truth behind the AnubisDAO rug pull. A core contributor known as Sisyphus stepped forward, offering a substantial 1,000 ETH bounty for information leading to the identification of the person behind the wallet connected to the Anubis attack. This move highlighted the determination within the community to bring the perpetrators to justice and potentially recover some of the stolen funds.
The investigation took an unexpected turn when accusations surfaced implicating Kevin Pawlak, a former OpenSea employee, in assisting with the rug pull under the pseudonymous identity 0xSisyphus. These allegations added another layer of complexity to an already convoluted situation, raising questions about the true identities of those involved in the project and the attack.
Blockchain Analysis and Ongoing Investigations
As the crypto community grappled with the fallout from the AnubisDAO incident, on-chain analysts sprang into action. Renowned blockchain sleuth ZachXBT, along with other analysts, began tracing the movement of the stolen funds. Their efforts led to the discovery of two exchange deposit addresses, potentially revealing the identities of the scammers involved in the rug pull.
The AnubisDAO rug pull serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in the cryptocurrency space, particularly with new and unproven projects. As investigations continue and the community awaits further developments, the incident underscores the importance of due diligence and caution when investing in cryptocurrency projects. The $60 million theft not only highlights the potential for large-scale fraud in the crypto world but also demonstrates the power of blockchain technology and community efforts in tracking and potentially recovering stolen funds.
