CrediX Recovers $4.5M in Stolen Crypto via Private Negotiation with Attacker

CrediX, a money market abstraction infrastructure protocol, has successfully recovered $4.5 million in stolen cryptocurrency following a private negotiation with the attacker. The breach occurred on July 28, 2025, when over $4.5 million in digital assets were moved to the Ethereum network through a Tornado Cash-funded wallet, according to blockchain security firm Cyvers [1]. This development offers a rare positive outcome for users in the wake of a major exploit.

In a surprising turn, CrediX announced a settlement with the attacker, who agreed to return the funds in exchange for an undisclosed payment from the protocol’s treasury. “Reached successful parley with the exploiter who agreed to return the funds within the next 24-48 hours in return for money fully paid by the CrediX treasury,” CrediX wrote on X [1]. The protocol plans to airdrop the recovered assets to affected user addresses within 48 hours, marking a swift and direct response to the incident.

This outcome aligns with a broader trend in 2025 where some attackers are returning stolen assets through negotiated settlements or bounty programs. For instance, in another high-profile case, a $40 million exploit on GMX was resolved when the attacker returned the funds in exchange for a $5 million white hat bounty [1]. Earlier in 2024, a $71 million wallet poisoning scam also saw the return of funds after intense pressure from blockchain investigators [1]. These examples highlight a potential shift in attacker behavior, possibly driven by the increasing visibility and coordination of security teams.

Despite these successes, the broader picture remains grim for most crypto projects. According to onchain security firm Immunefi, nearly 80% of hacked projects fail to recover their value post-incident [1]. This devaluation often inflicts greater long-term damage than the initial theft. CrediX’s case, while encouraging, does not represent a widespread solution but rather a strategic response to a specific threat.

The incident also occurred amid a broader surge in cyberattacks, affecting both traditional and crypto finance. On July 5, C& M Software—a service provider linking Brazil’s Central Bank to local institutions—was hacked for $140 million after an employee allegedly sold login credentials for approximately $2,700 [1]. These incidents underscore the growing need for robust cybersecurity measures and rapid incident response across all financial sectors.

CrediX has yet to classify the recent negotiation as a formal white hat bounty, but the resolution sets a precedent for similar cases in the future. The protocol’s transparency in communicating the settlement and the swift return of funds reinforce trust in its governance and response mechanisms. As the crypto industry continues to grapple with rising exploit risks, this case demonstrates that, under certain conditions, recovery is not only possible but achievable within a short timeframe.

Source: [1] CrediX Negotiates Crypto Asset Recovery after $4.5M Hack – Cointelegraph (https://cointelegraph.com/news/credix-negotiates-crypto-recovery-4-5m-hack)