Cetus Protocol Recovers $162M After Major DeFi Hack
Cetus Protocol, a DeFi project built on the Sui blockchain, has successfully recovered $162 million after suffering a major hack that initially drained over $223 million from its platform. The breach, which occurred on May 22, 2025, triggered immediate action from Cetus, with help from the Sui Foundation and cybersecurity firm Inca Digital.
Together, they managed to freeze a large portion of the stolen assets and have now offered a $6 million bounty to the hacker for the safe return of the remaining funds. U.S. agencies including FinCEN and the Department of Defense are also assisting in the investigation.
The hack caused sharp price swings in the SUI token and sparked concerns about DeFi security. Cetus has promised to publish a full incident report soon, shedding light on the breach and steps taken. This case underscores both the growing risks and the resilience of the decentralized finance sector.