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Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab Reveals Hidden Fund-Freezing Functions Across 16 Major Blockchains

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Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab Reveals Hidden Fund-Freezing Functions Across 16 Major Blockchains
Business

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Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab Reveals Hidden Fund-Freezing Functions Across 16 Major Blockchains

2025-11-12 20:47 Last Updated At:21:05

HONG KONG, Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report by Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab has revealed that 16 major blockchains include code that allows them to freeze or restrict user funds.

The report, titled "Blockchain Freezing Exposed: Examine The Impact of Fund Freezing Ability in Blockchain," is the first large-scale analysis of how blockchains can intervene in user transactions to contain security incidents such as hacks and exploits.

The report examined 166 blockchain networks using an AI-driven analysis combined with manual review. Researchers found that while 16 chains currently have freezing functions, another 19 could introduce them with relatively minor protocol changes.

The report identifies three distinct types of fund-freezing mechanisms:

  • Hardcoded freezing, built directly into the blockchain code (e.g., BNB Chain, VeChain)
  • Configuration-based freezing, managed through validator or foundation settings (e.g., Sui, Aptos)
  • On-chain contract freezing, executed via system contracts (e.g., HECO)

The study highlights several notable cases:

  • Sui froze $162 million in stolen assets after the Cetus hack.
  • Aptos later added blacklisting functions following the incident.
  • BNB Chain used hardcoded blacklists to contain a $570 million bridge exploit.
  • VeChain set an early precedent in 2019 by freezing funds from a $6.6 million breach.
  • Cosmos's modular account design may enable similar interventions in the future.

These interventions demonstrate how fund-freezing functions can serve as emergency tools to protect users and mitigate damage in large-scale security breaches.

"Blockchain was built on the principle of decentralization — yet our research shows that many networks are developing pragmatic safety mechanisms to respond quickly to threats," said David Zong, Head of Group Risk Control and Security at Bybit. "At Bybit, we believe transparency builds trust. Our goal is to encourage open dialogue and better governance across the industry. "

To conduct the review, Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab built an AI-assisted detection framework to scan codebases for modules enabling blacklisting, transaction filtering, or dynamic configuration updates. Human researchers then validated each case to ensure accuracy.

The study concludes that transparency around emergency intervention mechanisms should become a core pillar of blockchain governance, urging projects to publicly disclose whether and how they can intervene in on-chain activity.

"As crypto matures, clear and transparent safety mechanisms will help build lasting trust among users and institutions," the study concludes.

The full research, "Blockchain Freezing Exposed: Examining the Impact of Fund Freezing Ability in Blockchain," is available here.

#Bybit / #CryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

HONG KONG, Nov. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report by Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab has revealed that 16 major blockchains include code that allows them to freeze or restrict user funds.

The report, titled "Blockchain Freezing Exposed: Examine The Impact of Fund Freezing Ability in Blockchain," is the first large-scale analysis of how blockchains can intervene in user transactions to contain security incidents such as hacks and exploits.

The report examined 166 blockchain networks using an AI-driven analysis combined with manual review. Researchers found that while 16 chains currently have freezing functions, another 19 could introduce them with relatively minor protocol changes.

The report identifies three distinct types of fund-freezing mechanisms:

  • Hardcoded freezing, built directly into the blockchain code (e.g., BNB Chain, VeChain)
  • Configuration-based freezing, managed through validator or foundation settings (e.g., Sui, Aptos)
  • On-chain contract freezing, executed via system contracts (e.g., HECO)

The study highlights several notable cases:

  • Sui froze $162 million in stolen assets after the Cetus hack.
  • Aptos later added blacklisting functions following the incident.
  • BNB Chain used hardcoded blacklists to contain a $570 million bridge exploit.
  • VeChain set an early precedent in 2019 by freezing funds from a $6.6 million breach.
  • Cosmos's modular account design may enable similar interventions in the future.

These interventions demonstrate how fund-freezing functions can serve as emergency tools to protect users and mitigate damage in large-scale security breaches.

"Blockchain was built on the principle of decentralization — yet our research shows that many networks are developing pragmatic safety mechanisms to respond quickly to threats," said David Zong, Head of Group Risk Control and Security at Bybit. "At Bybit, we believe transparency builds trust. Our goal is to encourage open dialogue and better governance across the industry. "

To conduct the review, Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab built an AI-assisted detection framework to scan codebases for modules enabling blacklisting, transaction filtering, or dynamic configuration updates. Human researchers then validated each case to ensure accuracy.

The study concludes that transparency around emergency intervention mechanisms should become a core pillar of blockchain governance, urging projects to publicly disclose whether and how they can intervene in on-chain activity.

"As crypto matures, clear and transparent safety mechanisms will help build lasting trust among users and institutions," the study concludes.

The full research, "Blockchain Freezing Exposed: Examining the Impact of Fund Freezing Ability in Blockchain," is available here.

#Bybit / #CryptoArk

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 70 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

** The press release content is from PR Newswire. Bastille Post is not involved in its creation. **

Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab Reveals Hidden Fund-Freezing Functions Across 16 Major Blockchains

Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab Reveals Hidden Fund-Freezing Functions Across 16 Major Blockchains

MONROE, N.J. and RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif., May 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MimiSilk, the clinical-grade at-home beauty device brand, launched its 2026 Mother's Day campaign, offering a limited-time promotion across its full product collection. The campaign aims to provide consumers with accessible, professional skincare solutions as a gifting choice for the holiday, offering mothers a way to experience medical-grade skin rejuvenation from the comfort of home.

About MimiSilk: Silk Your Skin, Love Your Glow

MimiSilk was founded on a clear mission: to make clinical-grade skincare part of everyday life — offering an effective standalone solution for those seeking skin rejuvenation at home, and a powerful complement to in-clinic treatments for long-term maintenance and lasting results. Its devices are designed to be safe, accessible, and built into daily life – supporting women in building consistent self-care habits that help soften visible signs of aging, restore a natural inner glow, and achieve a texture as smooth as silk. At the core of the brand is a simple belief: beauty is about confidence, control, and taking time to care for yourself.

MimiSilk Iris: Multi-Benefit Anti-Aging in One Device

The flagship product of this season's campaign is the MimiSilk Iris, a non-ablative fractional laser device for at-home use. Operating at a clinically proven 1450 nm wavelength, Iris stimulates natural collagen production to address the appearance of wrinkles, refine pore visibility, and improve overall skin radiance. The device is non-invasive and requires no recovery downtime, making it compatible with a standard nightly skincare routine.

A Limited-Time Mother's Day 2026 Offer

The Mother's Day promotion is available across MimiSilk's collection, catering to both individual consumers and gift shoppers, making it a practical gifting choice for those looking to offer a practical, results-oriented skincare solution.

MimiSilk believes skincare can be more than a beauty step — it can be a meaningful part of how women feel refreshed, confident, and cared for in daily life. A few focused moments each week can become a quiet ritual of restoration and self-care. This Mother's Day and beyond, the brand hopes mothers everywhere feel seen, appreciated, and beautifully radiant.

Further details on the campaign and products are available on the MimiSilk official website.

 

** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **

MimiSilk Celebrates Mother's Day 2026: The Gift of Skin Confidence

MimiSilk Celebrates Mother's Day 2026: The Gift of Skin Confidence

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