Infini Hack: Hong Kong Stablecoin Neobank Loses $49.5M in Devastating Exploit, Underscoring DeFi Vulnerabilities

On February 24, 2025, Infini, a Hong Kong-based stablecoin neobank blending cryptocurrency and traditional finance, experienced a devastating security breach

Hong Kong stablecoin neobank Infini was reportedly breached on February 24, with the attacker making away with approximately $49.5 million in USD Coin (USDC) as earlier reported.

Blockchain security firm CertiK first flagged the exploit at 3:18 AM UTC, sending ripples of concern through the decentralized finance (DeFi) community. The incident highlights persistent vulnerabilities in the crypto space, especially following the recent $1.4 billion Bybit hack on February 21.

The Infini Attack

The attack targeted an Infini-related smart contract on the Ethereum blockchain, specifically the address 0x9A79f4105A4e1A050Ba0b42F25351D394fA7E1DC.

According to security analysts from CertiK, Cyvers, Blocksec, and PeckShield, a hacker gained unauthorized access by exploiting retained administrative privileges within the contract. The attacker, operating from the address 0xc49b5e5b9da66b9126c1a62e9761e6b2147de3e1, had initially developed the smart contract for Infini but retained control, unbeknownst to the project.

This insider access allowed the hacker to manipulate the contract’s settings, ultimately draining $49.5 million in USDC from what is believed to be the Morpho MEV Capital Usual USDC Vault.

After the theft, the hacker swiftly converted the stolen USDC into Dai (DAI) and then purchased 17,696 Ethereum (ETH), valued at around $49 million at the time.

It seems that the stablecoin bank @0xinfini was hacked and 49.5M $USDC was stolen.

The hacker swapped 49.5M $USDC for 49.5M $DAI and bought 17,696 $ETH.

The 17,696 $ETH was transferred to a new wallet "0xfcc8…6e49".https://t.co/AdAyB3q5LA pic.twitter.com/Rft6ZDtDWO

— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) February 24, 2025

The funds were then transferred to a new wallet, 0xfcc8…6e49, and split across multiple addresses, with some being initially funded into Tornado Cash, a privacy tool often used to obscure cryptocurrency transactions. However, at the time of reporting, the ETH remained unmixed, indicating ongoing efforts to trace the hacker’s movements.

Infini’s Response

Launched in 2024, Infini is a digital-only neobank that offers stablecoin transactions, crypto card services, and high-yield accounts. The neobank has now issued an official statement on the security breach, stating that “all transfers, deposits, withdrawals, and payments remain in normal usage and working status.”

We're aware of reports on a security compromise affecting Infini. We're deeply sorry for the concern this causes – our team is working around the clock to investigate and secure all systems at the moment.

All transfers, deposits, withdrawals, and payments remain in normal usage…

— Infini (@0xinfini) February 24, 2025

In a post on X, Infini founder Christian Li took full responsibility for the exploit, clarifying that the breach did not result from a private key leak but rather his negligence in transferring authority from the developer to the project. “My personal private key has not been leaked, so there is no need to worry too much. I was negligent when transferring the authority before. It is ultimately my responsibility. This has sounded the alarm… There is no problem with liquidity. Full compensation can be paid, and the funds are being traced,” he wrote.

Despite this reassurance, some on-chain analyses, including those from PeckShield, suggest a potential private key compromise, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation.

Impact of the Exploit

The exploit has raised serious questions about private key management, smart contract security, and the risks of insider threats in DeFi platforms.

As a neobank that has experienced meteoric growth, boasting a 500% monthly increase in active users since its inception, particularly after launching its crypto card campaigns, Infini now faces a critical test of its resilience. The neobank’s high-yield products, designed to attract liquidity, inadvertently provided the conditions for the exploit, amplifying the financial impact.

This incident follows closely on the heels of the Bybit exchange hack, which saw a staggering $1.4 billion drained through manipulated smart contract logic. The similarity in tactics, namely splitting and mixing ETH, has led on-chain investigator ZachXBT to speculate that