$106,200 ETH hack as AI crypto bot AIXBT gets breached

A recent security incident involving the AI crypto bot AIXBT has raised significant concerns about the vulnerabilities of automated systems in the cryptocurrency sector.

An attacker managed to breach the bot's dashboard, prompting it to transfer 55.5 Ether (CRYPTO:ETH), valued at approximately $106,200, from its wallet.

The breach occurred on March 18, 2025, at 1:58 am UTC, and was initially thought to be a manipulation of the AI itself.

However, the bot's maintainer, rxbt, clarified that the core systems were not compromised and the breach was due to unauthorised dashboard access.

In response to the incident, rxbt has taken several security measures, including migrating servers, swapping access keys, and reporting the hacker's addresses to exchanges.

Despite these efforts, the AIXBT token experienced a significant decline, dropping by 15.5% to 9 cents following the hack.

The incident highlights the need for robust security protocols in AI-driven crypto systems.

As decentralised AI researcher "S4mmy" noted, AI agents managing crypto funds must be thoroughly tested to prevent easy compromise by threat actors.

Spencer Farrar, a partner at Theory Ventures, suggests that while AI applications in crypto are currently experimental, they could lead to significant utility in the future.

The market capitalisation of tokens tied to AI agents currently stands at $4.2 billion, according to CoinGecko data.

The breach of AIXBT underscores the evolving nature of security threats in the crypto space, emphasising the importance of continuous security upgrades and vigilance.

As the AI and crypto sectors continue to evolve, ensuring the security of autonomous systems will be crucial for maintaining trust and stability in the market.

At the time of reporting, the Ethereum (ETH) price was $1,939.30.