New controversies over North Korean hacker attacks on Ethereum spark debates over the project's future policy.
Vitalik Buterin's Dilemma
On February 22, 2025, Justin Bechler, a user on platform X, sparked a heated debate in the crypto-financial community by claiming that Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, faces a critical decision following an alleged attack by North Korean-linked hackers. Bechler stated that Ethereum must choose between implementing a 'hard fork' to recover stolen funds or maintaining its current structure, risking sanctions from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
Community Split on the Issue
Opinions on platform X are divided: some users, like Decode, argue that Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation bear no direct responsibility for the attacks and should not intervene; others, like Albert Renshaw, question whether a decentralized blockchain like Ethereum can reverse transactions without compromising its core principles. Bechler responded to these criticisms, insisting that Ethereum faces imminent collapse, either from centralization or sanctions.
Response to North Korean Threat
Related news confirms the activity of North Korean hackers in the crypto sector. A Reuters report from November 21, 2024, details how South Korean police identified groups like Lazarus and Andariel, linked to North Korea’s military intelligence, as responsible for a 2019 Ethereum theft valued at $41.5 million. Another article from the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, dated May 27, 2024, notes that these hackers stole over $100 million in cryptocurrencies in 2022, using platforms like Uniswap to convert stolen assets into Ethereum. However, the Ethereum Foundation has yet to issue an official statement regarding these allegations or a potential hard fork. The debate on X reflects the tension between blockchain decentralization and the expectation of intervention in illicit activities.
Bechler concludes that Ethereum is at a dangerous crossroads, where any decision could mark the end of its relevance in the crypto-financial market.
