
Key Takeaways:
- Linea Blockchain halted block production following a $2.6 million hack on Velocore, highlighting centralization risks.
- The incident emphasized the need for decentralization in Ethereum layer-2 solutions, with Linea committing to faster progress than competitors.
- Linea’s team remains optimistic about decentralizing despite the hack, which prompted a temporary sequencer halt to protect funds.
Linea Blockchain’s recent halt of block production following a hack underscores the urgency for Ethereum layer-2 solutions to prioritize decentralization.
Linea paused its sequencer to prevent further loss of funds after a hacker exploited the Linea-based decentralized exchange, Velocore, transferring over $2.6 million in Ether.
Linea's team made a decision to halt block production by pausing the sequencer and censor attacker addresses to protect the users and builders in our ecosystem. Like other L2s, we are still in the "training wheels" phase of existence, giving us safeguards to use.
— Linea (@LineaBuild) June 2, 2024
This action highlighted the risks of centralized control in layer-2 solutions, prompting Alex Gluchowski, CEO of Matter Labs, to emphasize that decentralization of sequencers is crucial.
Linea’s product lead, Declan Fox, acknowledged the necessity of decentralization, stating that the network is progressing towards it faster than many competitors.
Despite the hack, Linea is on a solid path to decentralization, and the team remains optimistic about their pace compared to older frameworks.
🔊Update on Velocore Incident
— Linea (@LineaBuild) June 2, 2024
The Velocore DEX was exploited. Our teams have been employing our ecosystem security measures to mitigate the damage from this attack. More info in this thread.
Linea network remains secure, this only affected a 3rd party dapp.
Linea’s team clarified that halting the sequencer was a last resort to protect users and prevent further fund transfers.
The incident, detected by security firm Hexagate, involved a third-party bridge to move the stolen Ether.
Linea’s network, launched by Consensys in August 2023, aims to decentralize fully in the future to prevent such incidents.
The incident has sparked broader discussions on the centralization of Ethereum layer-2 solutions.
While Linea and other networks like Base remain centralized, efforts are underway to achieve decentralization progressively.