Infini's Last-Minute Ultimatum to the Hacker: White Hat Bounty or Legal Pursuit

On August 11 at 13:29 Beijing time, Infini posted an on-chain message via Etherscan that has become the talk of the crypto community. The protocol offered a 49.5 million USD bounty with strings attached—a high-stakes negotiation that reads like a plot twist in the unfolding blockchain security saga.

The Deal: Ethics Over Theft

The proposal is straightforward yet compelling. Infini demands the return of all compromised assets to address 0x5497131cf22e39cf1508955ed0cb3c3c39a8dee4 by August 13, 2025, at 20:00 Beijing time. In exchange, the protocol sweetens the deal: whoever drained the funds can keep 100% of the profits earned as a white hat ethical hacker reward.

This approach has sparked discussion across social platforms, with “hacker meme” posts joking about the unusual mercy being extended. It’s a rare moment where a protocol essentially says, “We’ll pay you to give it back.”

The Carrot and the Stick

The incentive structure reveals Infini’s pragmatic thinking. Rather than pursuing aggressive legal action with uncertain outcomes, they’re offering a path forward that transforms a criminal act into a consulting fee. If the terms are met by the deadline, all legal liability is waived. If not, the gloves come off.

Such white hat bounty programs have become more common in DeFi, though rarely at this magnitude. The 49.5 million USD figure underscores the severity of the breach and the protocol’s willingness to absorb losses if it means swift resolution.

The Waiting Game

As the clock ticks toward August 13, the crypto community watches closely. Whether the hacker accepts this generous alternative to becoming a permanent fugitive remains uncertain. The on-chain message itself has already become part of blockchain folklore—a reminder that even in moments of crisis, negotiation can trump confrontation.