What happened?
AI agent project AIXBT was hacked, and 55.5 Ether (ETH), worth over $100,000, were stolen.
AIXBT, built on the Virtuals Protocol, is an agent and one of the most followed “market commentators” in the crypto space.
Currently, the market value of tokens related to AI agents has reached $4.2 billion, with investors and developers in the crypto market continuing to closely monitor the application of AI in crypto trading.
AI Agent AIXBT Hacked, $100,000 in Ether Stolen
Recently, the well-known AI agent project AIXBT was hacked, and more than $100,000 worth of Ether (ETH) was stolen. The AIXBT account manager, rxbt, stated on X that although the hacker successfully accessed the “dashboard” and transferred funds, the core system of the AI agent was not affected.
AIXBT, which operates on the Virtuals Protocol, was launched at the end of last year and has become one of the most followed “market commentator” accounts in the crypto market. Users holding AIXBT tokens can access the market sentiment and data analysis provided by the project team.
According to reports, the hacker used an attack method called “Command Injection.” The attacker exploited a vulnerability to inject malicious commands into the system, causing the victim’s system to execute unauthorized operations. In the case of AIXBT, the hacker used this attack method to take control of the AI agent’s dashboard and successfully transferred about 55.5 Ether (ETH) by sending two malicious “response commands.”
According to an announcement from AIXBT, the team immediately carried out server migration, replaced keys, and suspended access to the dashboard, while also reporting the hacker’s related addresses to cryptocurrency exchanges. However, this hack has raised concerns in the market about the security of AI agent bots.
Investigation Report
At 2AM UTC, a hacker accessed a secure dashboard for @aixbt_agentautonomous system, queuing 2 malicious replies that led to 55 ETH taken from a simulacrum wallet. Those funds don’t affect core systems or development, no impact on us.
Reiterating that this…— rxbt (@0rxbt) March 18, 2025
AI Technology Deepens in the Crypto Market: Is Security Key to Development?
Experts point out that if AI bots are not adequately tested and secured, they can become targets for hackers, potentially resulting in significant financial losses. This incident has led the market to reflect on whether AI agents in the crypto industry can provide sufficient security, especially in areas such as risk management and fund protection, which may be lacking.
Nevertheless, experiments with AI agents in the crypto market remain a trend. According to data analysis platform CoinGecko, the market value of tokens related to AI agents has reached $4.2 billion. Investors and developers in the crypto market continue to closely monitor the application of AI in crypto trading.
Typically, these AI agents utilize AI-assisted technical analysis and market sentiment analysis to provide users with trading strategies and advice.
Spencer Farrar, partner at investment firm Theory Ventures, believes that AI’s application in the crypto field is still in its early stages, but as technology develops, it could bring more practical functions and allow users to engage in more types of investment opportunities.
As AI technology becomes more deeply integrated into the crypto market, ensuring the security of these AI agents will remain a key focus for both the industry and investors.
Source: Cointelegraph, The Block