The blockchain halted network operations at block 24,671,475 to stop the attack. According to the developers, the hacker transferred 2,985,651,403 TAC tokens from one escrow account to another. Project representatives assure that no new tokens were created and that the attack only affected TAC — all other assets remained unaffected. The TAC team stated they are cooperating with cryptocurrency exchanges to track the transferred funds. All transactions, deposits and withdrawals are frozen for the duration of the investigation.
TAC (TON Application Chain) is a first-layer blockchain that serves as a bridge between the Ethereum and TON ecosystems and the Telegram messenger. The network allows for the deployment of Ethereum-compatible decentralized applications (dApps) so that users can interact with them directly within Telegram without leaving their familiar interface. The native TAC token is used for paying gas fees, staking, and participating in network governance through DAO proposal voting.
A day earlier, a similar attack occurred on the MANTRA Chain blockchain, which also used the Cosmos EVM module. The network's operations were also halted; the extent of the damage was not disclosed by the blockchain team. Cosmos EVM is a module that implements compatibility with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) within the Cosmos ecosystem. It allows for running smart contracts written for Ethereum on networks based on Cosmos.
Recently, the decentralized protocol Term Labs was subjected to a hacker attack, resulting in an unknown malicious actor withdrawing approximately $8.5 million, according to CertiK analysts. The exploiter used a vulnerability in the protocol's governance mechanism and gained access to Term Vaults.
