Unleash Protocol Suffers $3.9M Exploit After Governance Takeover
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Dec 30 2025- Attack Overview: On December 30, 2025, Unleash Protocol experienced a $3.9 million exploit where the attacker gained unauthorized control over the governance system, allowing for unapproved contract upgrades and user fund withdrawals, highlighting vulnerabilities in multisig governance.
- Fund Movements: The stolen assets included 1,337.1 ETH and various protocol-related tokens, with the attacker laundering the funds through Tornado Cash, employing a tactic of transferring in multiple tranches to obscure transaction trails and complicate forensic analysis.
- Response Measures: The Unleash team paused all platform operations immediately upon detection of the breach and is collaborating with independent security firms and forensic investigators to assess the attack's scope and potential remediation paths, demonstrating a commitment to user asset security.
- User Advisory: Unleash Protocol has urged users not to interact with any Unleash contracts until further notice, emphasizing the increasing frequency of governance-related exploits and the critical importance of administrative access and multisig security in DeFi and tokenized IP platforms.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
