24-5-2025 – A prominent blockchain security expert has challenged the efficacy of a contentious $5 million bounty scheme designed to apprehend the Cetus protocol hacker, bringing to light significant flaws in current cyber-crime recovery practices.
The scrutiny, led by respected investigator ZachXBT, centres on the problematic ‘success-only’ payment structure, which requires investigators to shoulder substantial upfront costs whilst offering no guaranteed return on their investment of time and resources.
Industry standards typically embrace a dual-compensation approach, combining base remuneration with performance incentives. However, the Cetus bounty diverges markedly from this established framework, potentially deterring skilled professionals from engaging with the case.
“The current model creates an unsustainable imbalance,” suggests the analysis, highlighting how victims retain their assets whilst shifting all operational risks to investigating parties. This arrangement becomes particularly problematic when considering cross-border investigations, where jurisdictional complexities can significantly impact fund recovery prospects.
The critique extends beyond this specific case, suggesting such poorly structured bounties risk undermining broader industry efforts to combat cryptocurrency theft. Leading firms in the sector have long advocated for more balanced approaches that acknowledge the substantial expertise and resources required for successful investigations.
