The Fateful Launch
It was a day like any other, except for those involved in the AnubisDAO project. Launched through a Discord channel on October 28, the new canine-themed token was all the rage—and investors were pawing at the chance to get in. Utilizing AlchemistCoin’s liquidity bootstrapping protocol (LBP), Copper, the project managed to pull in a whopping 13,256.4 Ether (ETH). But wait! Less than a day later, chaos reigned as funds mysteriously disappeared into the depths of the blockchain.
Meet Brian, the Investor
Let’s hear from one unfortunate participant in this saga. Brian Nguyen, a self-proclaimed victim, found himself $470,000 lighter due to what he described as a ‘buy first, do research later’ approach. Lessons learned, am I right? With a bemused grin, he reflected on the allure of the AnubisDAO branding, which, let’s be honest, is about as appealing as a dog park filled with freshly rolled tennis balls. Who could resist?
A Canine-Inspired Catastrophe
Named after Anubis, the Egyptian god of the afterlife (bonus points for anyone who knew that), this project seemed promising. Thanks to some clever Twitter marketing, particularly from decentralized finance advocate Sisyphus, investors flocked to the token like a pack of hungry pups. But as excitement turned to despair, the total losses reportedly climbed to an eye-watering $57 million.
Phishing, Protocols, and Potential Inside Jobs
According to Sisyphus, the very structure of AnubisDAO was questionable from the outset. Inspired by a flight of ideas among PebbleDAO members, the team made decisions that Sisyphus later described as “critical mistakes.” Enter Beerus: the pseudonymous founding member who ‘accidentally’ clicked a malicious PDF while doing his best impersonation of the greatest detective of all time. Hours later, a fresh wave of funds vanished into the ether. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.
The Investigation and Future Actions
In the aftermath, Sisyphus revealed that they have been in touch with law enforcement in both the U.S. and Hong Kong, seeking to return the stolen funds. An enticing offer was extended—return the money and keep 1,000 ETH as a reward for good faith. Meanwhile, the wallets responsible for the heist started sending the stolen ETH over to Coinbase, raising eyebrows across the crypto community.
Conclusion: Lessons Learned
As tokens come and go, the rise and fall of AnubisDAO serves as a cautionary tale in the wild world of cryptocurrency. Whether it was an honest mistake, a clever scam, or an inside job, the case will likely prompt future investors to do a bit more homework before diving in headfirst. But hey, if it sounds too good to be true, you might just want to make like a wise old dog and think twice.
