They stole 25 million dollars in 12 seconds! They were caught
In the United States, two brothers in their 20s are accused of stealing $25 million worth of cryptocurrency in as little as 12 seconds.
The US Department of Justice stated that the robbery, which took place in April 2023, was "the first of its kind ever."
Deputy prosecutor Lisa Monaco said, "The Peraire-Bueno brothers stole $25 million worth of Ethereum by using very advanced, sophisticated technology and implementing the plan they had been working on for months in seconds."
It is stated that the brothers were educated at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the most prestigious universities in the USA, and that they exploited the verification process of Ethereum's money transfer transactions by using the "special skills" they acquired during their university education.
Local media reported that the brothers were studying mathematics and computer engineering at MIT.
“The defendants' scheme raises questions about the robustness of the blockchain system,” said Attorney General Damian Williams.
Digital currencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are distributed through blockchain technology and there is no central authority governing this system. Ethereum is considered the most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin.
The arrested brothers are alleged to have seized Ethereum investors' cryptocurrencies by fraudulently accessing pending private transfer transactions.
Investigators are calling the crime "the Exploit" (which means 'exploitation' but also 'superiority').
It was also stated that after Ethereum representatives reached them, the brothers refused to return the money they stole and resorted to money laundering.
Prosecutors point out that this is the first time such a "different" form of fraud has been the subject of a criminal case.
If the brothers are found guilty by the court, they could each face more than 20 years in prison.
