The developer known by the pseudonym Hoak has admitted to misappropriating almost $300,000 from user funds and subsequently losing the money through gambling. Hoak, a key figure behind the Solana-based cross-margin decentralized exchange (DEX) known as Cypher Protocol, disclosed his malfeasance in a public confession on May 14. In his statement, he acknowledged the theft and clarified that he did not abscond with the funds nor did anyone else benefit from the theft, asserting, “To address the elephant in the room, the allegations are true, I took the funds and gambled them away.”
The confession came after revelations by Barrett_io, another pseudonymous contributor to Cypher Protocol. On May 13, Barrett_blogged about the missing funds, but the post initially did not gain much attention. The issue gained wider awareness when a member of a Discord group reported difficulties in withdrawing their funds. Barrett provided details saying, “Hoak has stolen funds from the cypher redemption contract. This happened over months via 36 withdrawals… Deployer wallet (ETR8…) withdraws funds from Cypher’s redemption contract. Then conducts swaps and sends SOL, USDC, and USDT to an intermediary wallet (7sKM…). This intermediary wallet then sends funds to Binance.”
Based on on-chain data analyzed by Barrett, a total of $317,000 worth of Solana (SOL), Tether USD (USDT), and USDC (USDC) were transferred to the Binance exchange by the address linked to Hoak. On December 7, at one point, Hoak’s wallet held $68,365 worth of digital assets before transferring them to Binance. By April 22, the wallet once again contained over $56,000 worth of assets before over 99% were moved within the subsequent two days, as noted in data from CoinStats.
This incident represents another significant setback for Cypher Protocol, which has been in a recovery phase after a hacking incident in August 2023 where over $1 million in digital assets were stolen. The continuous issues not only destabilize the platform but also erode user trust, making it harder for Cypher Protocol to regain its footing in the crypto world.
Hoak pinned the blame for his actions on a severe gambling addiction. While he did not seek sympathy for his actions, he explained that the thefts were the culmination of a spiraling addiction that had gone unchecked for some time. “I am also in no way, shape, or form attempting to victimize myself, but this is the culmination of what snowballed into a crippling gambling addiction,” he stated.
Critics of cryptocurrency often point out that the industry is riddled with behavior akin to gambling. Gary Gensler, the Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), has likened the crypto market to “casinos in the Wild West,” where stablecoins act as the “poker chips.” Such analogies suggest that the ecosystem encourages reckless financial behavior, much like gambling.
Recent studies support these assertions. A 2023 YouGov survey involving over 4,200 adults in the United Kingdom found that those who gamble at harmful levels are nearly five times more likely to own cryptocurrencies compared to the general population. This correlation indicates that individuals prone to gambling are more susceptible to experiencing the negative impacts of crypto trading.
As the latest developments unfold, the ramifications for the Cypher Protocol and its users continue to intensify. The broader implications of such incidents call into question the reliability and security of decentralized financial systems, especially when trust is compromised by internal actors. While the industry battles these challenges, it remains critical for users to stay informed and practice vigilance in managing their digital assets.
This is just another example of why I stay away from these decentralized exchanges. 💀 Cypher Protocol can’t get its act together.
Kudos to Barrett for his investigative work. The crypto world needs more watchdogs like him!
Hoak’s confession is tough to digest, but necessary for progress and rebuilding trust. 💡🔄
How are we supposed to believe in the future of DeFi when key players keep messing it up? Hoak should be held accountable.
Its a reminder that we need better checks and balances in the crypto space. Lets learn from this!
Hoak’s confession took guts. While mistakes were made, being open is a step in the healing process.
After so many setbacks, I hope Cypher Protocol can find solid ground again. Remember, stronger together! 🌍🤝
Wow, it’s brave of Hoak to admit his mistakes publicly. Accountability is the first step toward recovery.
This incident reinforces the need for vigilance in the crypto community. Stay sharp, everyone!
Hoak admitting to gambling addiction casts a spotlight on mental health issues in the crypto industry. Let’s work towards better awareness and support!
Betting with user funds is a massive breach of trust, but confessing openly shows a desire to make amends. 🚀🙌
Props to Barrett and those who kept digging until the truth surfaced. That’s the power of community guardrails!
Accountability is everything in the decentralized world. Hoaks admission, while painful, is necessary.
A tough lesson learned. Betting with other peoples money is never okay, but Hoak acknowledging his problem is the right move.
The crypto space is turning into a circus. Hoak should be banned from ever working in this industry again. 🤡
Major respect for owning up to the issue, Hoak. It’s heartbreaking but hopefully, some good will come out of this.