Hackers Exploit New ETH Feature to Steal WLFI Tokens: A 2025 Crypto Heist
In September 2025, the launch of the World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token, linked to former U.S. President Donald Trump, sparked massive market enthusiasm—and almost immediately, a wave of sophisticated phishing attacks. Hackers Leveraged Ethereum’s newly implemented EIP-7702 feature to automate the theft of WLFI tokens, leaving victims powerless as their wallets were drained. This article breaks down the attack mechanics, victim stories, and the broader implications for crypto security. --- ### How Did the WLFI Token Launch Turn into a Hacker Magnet?
The WLFI token’s debut was met with explosive trading volume, briefly rivaling top cryptocurrencies. Within hours, its price surged from $0.33 to a peak of $0.50 before crashing to $0.21, but the volatility didn’t deter cybercriminals. According to CoinMarketCap, WLFI’s market cap briefly hit $5.63 billion, making it a juicy target. By September 2, blockchain security firms like SlowMist flagged large-scale phishing campaigns exploiting Ethereum’s latest upgrade.
Key Data: - WLFI Price Drop: 36% within 24 hours post-launch. - Attack Vector: EIP-7702’s “delegate” function, which lets external wallets mimic smart contracts. --- ### What Is the EIP-7702 Exploit?Yu Xian, founder of SlowMist, revealed that hackers used phishing to steal private keys, then injected malicious smart contracts into victims’ wallets. Once activated, these contracts auto-drained WLFI tokens—no manual intervention needed. The exploit’s efficiency lies in its scalability: attackers set rules (e.g., “siphon tokens from airdrops”) and let the code do the rest.  *Source: Twitter/@0xdavidic* One victim, “hakanemiratlas,” lost 80% of their WLFI holdings in October 2024 but salvaged the remainder via emergency transfers. Others weren’t as lucky.
--- ### Why Are WLFI Holders Especially Vulnerable?The token’s pre-sale required buyers to use the same wallet for the waitlist and transactions. Hackers pounced when users deposited ETH to pay gas fees, triggering the malicious contracts. Bubblemaps also identified “clustered clones” mimicking WLFI contracts, while phishing links proliferated on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter). Pro Tip: Always verify contract addresses on platforms like Etherscan before interacting. As one BTCC analyst noted, “Automated attacks don’t give you time to react—prevention is everything.”
--- ### Other Scams Targeting WLFI InvestorsBeyond EIP-7702, criminals deployed “honeypot” tokens via airdrops. One user accidentally bought a fake WLFI token on Phantom Swap, losing $4,876. Others fell for phishing schemes offering “exclusive” WLFI deals. Red Flags to Watch: - Unsolicited airdrops. - “Too-good-to-be-true” buy offers. - Telegram/X accounts impersonating WLFI admins. *This article does not constitute investment advice.*
--- ### FAQ: The WLFI Hack ExplainedWLFI Token Security Concerns
How did hackers steal WLFI tokens?
They used Ethereum’s EIP-7702 upgrade to inject self-executing smart contracts into compromised wallets, auto-draining tokens.
Can victims recover stolen funds?
Unlikely. The automated nature of the attacks makes recovery nearly impossible unless exchanges freeze the assets.
Is WLFI still tradable?
Yes, on exchanges like BTCC and others, but extreme caution is advised due to ongoing scams.