DeFi Hackers' Unexpected Acts of Kindness
A recent DeFi exploit saw $3.8 million returned to its rightful owner after a surprising turn of events.
The incident occurred on NEAR Intents, where an attacker drained funds before returning them with a message admitting fault and thanking the victim's team for their respectful handling of the situation.
This case is notable as it follows a pattern seen in other 2026 hacks: when attackers return stolen funds, they often do so after a patch has been applied and a bounty offer has been made. However, some major hacks have not followed this trend, with attackers like those behind the Drift Protocol breach showing no signs of returning their ill-gotten gains.
The contrast between these two types of breaches highlights the growing divide in DeFi security, where some attacks are resolved amicably while others remain unresolved.