Hackers Launder $28 Million from Bittensor Heist Through Anime NFTs
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has uncovered an unconventional money laundering scheme tied to the mid-2024 Bittensor hack, where $28 million in stolen cryptocurrency was partially funneled through anime-themed NFT purchases exceeding $100,000. The decentralized AI platform has since recovered operationally, but the case highlights evolving challenges for law enforcement.
The hackers bypassed traditional privacy tools like Railgun and mixing services, instead exploiting the opaque nature of NFT marketplaces to obscure their trail. Investigators identified a potential LINK to a former Opentensor engineer, though no direct involvement has been confirmed. This novel laundering technique raises concerns about its potential adoption by other cybercriminal networks.