Railgun Thwarts $530K Laundering Attempt by Notorious Crypto-Draining Group Inferno Drainer

Crypto privacy protocol Railgun successfully thwarted an attempt by the notorious wallet-draining group Inferno Drainer to launder $530,000 worth of stolen ETH.

Crypto privacy protocol Railgun thwarted an attempt by the notorious wallet-draining group Inferno Drainer to launder $530,000 worth of stolen Ether (ETH).

On July 10, cryptocurrency tracker MistTrack reported that a laundering attempt involving 174 ETH was blocked by Railgun, forcing the funds back to Inferno Drainer’s original wallet.

Railgun is an on-chain privacy protocol that uses zero-knowledge succinct non-interactive arguments of knowledge (zk-SNARKs) to protect users’ privacy without compromising their security. Railgun implements privacy pools to ensure that users can maintain their anonymity while participating in the network.

Railgun quickly blacklisted the address associated with Inferno Drainers, preventing the laundering attempt and reinforcing the protocol’s security measures. This proactive approach was praised by the crypto community, highlighting the importance of such measures in maintaining trust and safety within the ecosystem.

While other crypto mixers have been shutting down amid regulatory pressures, Railgun has seen increased adoption and support. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has been a vocal advocate for Railgun, using the protocol to conduct multiple transactions and emphasizing its importance for maintaining privacy in the crypto space.

Inferno Drainer has been a major player in the crypto-draining landscape since November 2022, operating under a scam-as-a-service model. The group tricks victims into connecting their cryptocurrency wallets to malicious websites, allowing the attackers to drain funds once a transaction is authorized. Group-IB, a cybersecurity firm, has identified thousands of unique domains linked to Inferno Drainer’s phishing operations, which have targeted many crypto brands and users.

Despite announcing plans to shut down operations, Inferno Drainer’s infrastructure still seems to be active. The group has stolen over $180 million in crypto from 189,000 victims since its inception, according to Dune Analytics.

The cryptocurrency sector has experienced a dramatic surge in exploits and thefts. According to blockchain research firm TRM Labs, global losses from crypto theft in the first half of 2024 surpassed $1.38 billion. This figure is more than double the amount lost during the same period in the previous year, highlighting a significant rise in cybercriminal activity targeting digital assets.

Phishing attacks, such as the ones executed by Inferno Drainers, account for a substantial portion of these breaches. Experts in blockchain security stress the critical need for stronger security protocols and heightened awareness among users.

One effective strategy is enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) to secure crypto-related accounts against phishing attacks. 2FA provides an additional security layer by requiring a second form of verification, usually a unique code generated on the user’s mobile device, in addition to their password. This dual verification process ensures that even if attackers obtain login credentials through phishing attempts, they still need the second factor, such as a time-based one-time password, to gain access.

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