THORChain Refuses to Block Hackers' Wallets Amid Bitget Heist

THORChain has refused to block wallets tied to the $387.5 million hack of exchange Bitget, despite Bitget's request for intervention.

In a statement on X, THORChain explained that its network halt is an emergency security mechanism designed to protect the protocol as a whole, not to selectively freeze specific funds or individual swaps.

The protocol pointed out that it has a decentralized design without a centralized party capable of blacklisting addresses, unlike centralized exchanges which can freeze accounts at will.

THORChain also drew a contrast with its own May 2026 exploit, where attackers stole $10.7 million from its liquidity pools, and noted that it had not blocked attacker-linked addresses in the past.

This refusal highlights the tension between decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols like THORChain, which prioritize permissionless infrastructure, and exchanges seeking to recover stolen funds after a hack.