Aperture Hacker Launders $1.25M in Stolen ETH via Tornado Cash

Edgen Crypto

·Feb 05 2026, 05:42

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Key Takeaways

The entity responsible for the ~$17 million exploit of Aperture Finance and SwapNet has begun laundering the stolen funds. The latest move involved transferring a significant portion of the crypto assets to a mixing service, signaling an attempt to obscure the trail of the illicitly obtained capital and raising further concerns about security in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector.

A hacker transferred 590.7 ETH, valued at approximately $1.25 million, to the crypto mixing protocol Tornado Cash.
The funds originate from a larger ~$17 million exploit that targeted both Aperture Finance and SwapNet.
This laundering activity erodes trust in DeFi security and increases the probability of stricter regulatory action against privacy-focused protocols.

Hacker Moves $1.25M in Stolen ETH to Tornado Cash

The entity behind the multimillion-dollar attack on Aperture Finance transferred 590.7 ETH, worth approximately $1.25 million, to the Tornado Cash mixing protocol. The transaction, monitored by blockchain security firm CertiK, represents a clear attempt to launder the stolen assets. Tornado Cash is a decentralized service that breaks the on-chain link between a source and destination address, making it difficult to trace the flow of funds and a common tool for illicit actors.

Exploit Undermines Trust in DeFi Protocols

This fund movement is a direct consequence of the recent ~$17 million hack that affected both Aperture Finance and SwapNet. By funneling the proceeds through a mixer, the attacker aims to cash out without being tracked, highlighting persistent security vulnerabilities within the decentralized finance ecosystem. The event reinforces negative sentiment around DeFi security, likely damaging user confidence in the affected protocols and increasing the potential for further regulatory scrutiny on crypto mixing services that facilitate money laundering.