Reports from cybersecurity firms Cyvers and Peckshield suggest that the popular online casino, Stake.com, has fallen victim to a cryptocurrency heist. Cyvers, known for its AI-powered security systems, detected a series of suspicious transactions on the platform in the past hour, raising alarm bells in the crypto community.
In their initial investigation, Cyvers unveiled that the hacker’s wallet had received a staggering $16 million in various cryptocurrencies, including ETH, USDC, USDT, and DAI. The crafty hacker then converted these stablecoins into ETH and dispersed them among multiple externally owned accounts. To compound the issue, just two hours before this $16 million transfer, Stake.com experienced an additional $20 million being siphoned into the same wallet.
The situation took a more ominous turn as further inquiries, led by self proclaimed “2d Detective” Twitter account ZachXBT, revealed a staggering loss of $25.6 million across both the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) and Polygon networks. Tommy WorldPower, CEO of the Ethereum L1 blockchain Energi, noted that approximately $2 million worth of assets were still held in Stake’s wallet.
Despite the severity of the incident, Stake.com has yet to issue an official statement addressing the alleged hack, leaving many in the dark about the extent of the damage and the path forward.
Founded in 2017, Stake.com is a well-known online casino with a strong emphasis on sports betting and a wide array of casino games, including popular options like slots, blackjack, and roulette. What sets it apart is its exclusive reliance on cryptocurrencies for transactions, supporting a diverse selection of 18 cryptocurrencies, including big names like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), as well as quirky ones like Dogecoin (DOGE) and ApeCoin (APE).
Stake.com’s prominence in the world of sports and entertainment cannot be understated. The platform has made headlines through sponsorship deals and partnerships with renowned figures like UFC fighter Israel Adesanya, football sensation Sergio Agüero, Formula One reserve driver Pietro Fittipaldi, and even chart-topping musician Drake. In a significant move, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team entered into a multi-year partnership with Stake.com in January 2023, leading to the team’s rebranding as the “Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake”.