A private key leak caused a minting exploit for Hacken Token (HAI), leading to a 99% crash. Hacken is scrambling to regain control and plan for the future.

Hacken Token's Wild Ride: Minting Exploit and the Cryptocurrency Crash

Hacken Token (HAI) experienced a dramatic crash following a minting exploit due to a private key leak. The price plummeted 99%, leaving the cybersecurity firm scrambling to regain control and rethink its token's future.

The Anatomy of the Hack

A compromised private key, linked to an account with minting privileges on both Ethereum and BNB Chain, allowed a malicious actor to mint and dump approximately $250,000 worth of Hacken Tokens (HAI). This caused a devastating 99% drop in HAI's value, from $0.015 to a mere $0.000056. Ouch!

Hacken's Response: Damage Control

The Hacken team acted swiftly to revoke the compromised minter account and regain control of the token contract. They assured users that the core infrastructure remains secure and that the breach was limited to the private keys. However, the attacker still managed to make off with a substantial amount of tokens.

Bridge Redeployment: The Root Cause?

Hacken believes the private key was compromised during architectural changes to their blockchain bridge, ironically intended to prevent such risks. Redesigning a deployed bridge is a complex process, and the firm has paused bridge transactions on Ethereum and BNB Chain as a precaution.

What's Next for HAI? A Security Token Transformation

Hacken CEO Dyma Budorin announced that tokens bought after the hack on the affected networks (BNB Smart Chain and Ethereum) will not be supported in the new tokenomics. The company aims to accelerate its plan to transform HAI into a regulated security token, merging token utility with equity rights.

The Bigger Picture: Crypto Hacks on the Rise

This incident underscores the ongoing risks in the crypto world. PeckShield reported over $1.63 billion stolen in crypto during the first quarter of 2025. Even liquid staking protocols like Meta pool have fallen victim to similar exploits.

Looking Ahead: A Silver Lining?

While the Hacken Token crash is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in the crypto space, it also presents an opportunity for Hacken to innovate and build a more secure and robust system. Maybe HAI can come back stronger than ever. Only time will tell!