Can you provide examples of past governance attacks on popular cryptocurrencies?

7 answers

• Ezinne mkpumeAug 20, 2023 · 2 years ago
  Certainly! Governance attacks on popular cryptocurrencies have been a concern in the past. One notable example is the 51% attack on Ethereum Classic in 2019. In this attack, the attacker gained control of more than 51% of the network's mining power, allowing them to rewrite transaction history and double-spend coins. This incident highlighted the importance of a robust consensus mechanism to prevent such attacks.
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• Combs NeumannJun 22, 2025 · 8 months ago
  Sure thing! Let's not forget the DAO attack on Ethereum back in 2016. The Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO) was a smart contract-based investment fund built on the Ethereum blockchain. However, a vulnerability in the DAO's code allowed an attacker to drain millions of Ether from the fund. This incident led to a hard fork in the Ethereum blockchain, resulting in the creation of Ethereum (ETH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC).
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• Kimberllym CastelanelliOct 12, 2021 · 4 years ago
  Of course! One example that comes to mind is the attack on the Bitfinex exchange in 2016. While not directly related to governance, this incident had significant implications for the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Hackers managed to steal approximately 120,000 Bitcoin from Bitfinex, which was a substantial portion of their holdings. This event highlighted the importance of robust security measures and the need for exchanges to implement proper governance protocols to protect user funds.
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• Seun AkintelureJul 19, 2021 · 5 years ago
  Absolutely! It's worth mentioning the attack on the Mt. Gox exchange in 2014. Mt. Gox was once the largest Bitcoin exchange, but it suffered a major security breach that resulted in the loss of approximately 850,000 Bitcoins. This incident exposed the vulnerabilities of centralized exchanges and emphasized the need for improved security measures and regulatory oversight.
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• Gift MumbaJul 19, 2020 · 6 years ago
  Certainly! One recent example is the attack on the KuCoin exchange in 2020. Hackers managed to exploit vulnerabilities in the exchange's hot wallets and stole over $280 million worth of various cryptocurrencies. This incident highlighted the importance of robust security measures and the need for exchanges to regularly audit and update their security protocols.
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• Samantha NelsonJun 09, 2021 · 5 years ago
  Sure thing! Let's not forget the attack on the Binance exchange in 2019. While Binance managed to prevent any funds from being stolen, hackers did gain access to user API keys, two-factor authentication codes, and other sensitive information. This incident prompted Binance to enhance its security measures and implement additional safeguards to protect user funds.
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• Sonika PrakashJul 27, 2025 · 7 months ago
  Of course! One notable example is the attack on the Parity multi-signature wallet in 2017. A vulnerability in the wallet's code allowed an attacker to freeze funds in thousands of Ethereum wallets. This incident highlighted the importance of thorough code audits and the need for developers to follow best practices when creating smart contracts and decentralized applications.
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