What happened?

AI agent project AIXBT was hacked and 55.5 Ethereum (ETH), worth over $100,000, was stolen.

AIXBT is an agent built on the Virtuals Protocol and is one of the “market commentator” accounts closely followed by investors.

Currently, the market capitalization of tokens related to AI agents has reached $4.2 billion, and crypto market investors and developers remain highly focused on the application of AI in crypto trading.

AI Agent AIXBT Hacked, $100,000 in Ethereum Stolen

The well-known AI agent project AIXBT was recently hacked, and over $100,000 worth of Ethereum (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 unaffected.

AIXBT is an agent built on the Virtuals Protocol, launched at the end of last year, and is one of the most closely followed “market commentator” accounts in the crypto market. Users holding AIXBT tokens can view market sentiment and data analysis provided by the project team.

According to reports, the hacker used an attack method known as “Command Injection.” The attacker found a vulnerability to inject malicious commands into the system, causing the victim’s system to perform unauthorized operations. In the case of AIXBT, the hacker used this attack method to take control of the AI agent’s dashboard and, by sending two malicious “response commands,” successfully guided AIXBT to transfer around 55.5 Ethereum (ETH).

According to an announcement by AIXBT, the team immediately migrated the servers, replaced keys, and suspended access to the dashboard, while reporting the hacker-related addresses to cryptocurrency exchanges. However, this hacker attack has raised concerns about the security of AI agents in the market.

Investigation Report

At 2AM UTC, a hacker accessed a secure dashboard for @aixbt_agent autonomous 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 the Key to Development?

Experts point out that if AI robots are not sufficiently tested and reinforced with security measures, they will become targets for hackers, potentially leading to significant financial losses. This event has also led the market to reflect on whether AI agents in the crypto industry can provide adequate security, especially in risk management and fund protection, areas that may be lacking.

Even so, the use of AI agents in the crypto market remains a trend. According to data analytics platform CoinGecko, the market capitalization of tokens related to AI agents has reached $4.2 billion. Investors and developers in the crypto market remain highly focused on the application of AI in crypto trading.

These AI agents typically use AI-assisted technical analysis and market sentiment analysis to provide users with trading strategies and advice.

Spencer Farrar, a partner at investment firm Theory Ventures, believes that AI applications in the crypto field are still in the early stages, but as technology develops, more practical features may emerge, providing users with more types of investment opportunities.

As the application of AI technology in the crypto market deepens, ensuring the security of these AI agents will remain a key focus for the industry and investors alike.

Sources: Cointelegraph, The Block