Infini Hacker Launders 15,470 ETH via Tornado Cash Amid Extreme Market Fear

VADODARA, February 9, 2026 — The hacker behind the 2025 Infini stablecoin breach executed a sophisticated laundering operation, moving 15,470 ETH worth $32.58 million into Tornado Cash. This latest crypto news highlights a calculated exploitation of extreme market fear, with the attacker buying 6,316 ETH at $2,109 just hours before the deposit. Market structure suggests this move targets liquidity gaps during a sentiment-driven downturn.

Investigation: The Infini Hacker's Laundering Timeline

According to on-chain data reported by AmberCN, the hacker purchased 6,316 ETH with DAI seven hours ago. The price point was $2,109. Following this acquisition, the attacker deposited the entire 15,470 ETH haul into Tornado Cash. This laundering event stems from the initial February 2025 theft of $49.5 million in USDC from the Infini stablecoin neobank project.

Historical transaction logs show the hacker swapped 3,540 ETH for DAI in August 2025 at an average price of $3,762. Consequently, the current laundering represents a strategic exit from earlier positions. On-chain forensic analysis confirms the attacker's wallet activity aligns with typical money laundering patterns observed in post-hack cycles.

Market Context & Historical Precedent

This event mirrors the 2021 correction where hackers exploited market fear to launder assets. Similar to the 2021 correction, extreme fear metrics create liquidity vacuums. Attackers target these gaps to obfuscate fund trails. In contrast, the current Extreme Fear reading of 14/100 on the Crypto Fear & Greed Index amplifies selling pressure.

Underlying this trend is a broader institutional pullback from altcoin markets. Historical cycles suggest such laundering during fear phases often precedes volatile price swings. , regulatory scrutiny on privacy tools like Tornado Cash intensifies during these periods. Related developments include South Korea's recent crackdown on market manipulation and the global fear index hitting multi-month lows.

Technical Architecture & Price Action

Market structure indicates the $2,109 purchase created a significant Fair Value Gap (FVG). This FVG now acts as a liquidity magnet. The 24-hour trend shows ETH at $2,086.53, down -0.23%. Volume profile analysis reveals weak support near the $2,050 Fibonacci 0.618 retracement level.

Resistance clusters around the $2,200 order block from last week. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at 38, signaling oversold conditions. However, on-chain data indicates large UTXO movements from older wallets. This suggests long-term holders are distributing. The Ethereum network's post-merge issuance rate remains stable, but transaction fee spikes could follow laundering events.

By The Numbers

Why It Matters

This laundering event tests Ethereum's anti-money laundering (AML) resilience. According to Ethereum.org documentation, privacy-enhancing protocols face ongoing regulatory challenges. The $32.58 million movement pressures institutional liquidity cycles. Retail market structure often fractures under such large-scale obfuscation.

Real-world evidence shows similar past events led to increased regulatory proposals. For instance, the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has previously sanctioned Tornado Cash addresses. Consequently, this activity may trigger further compliance actions. Institutional investors monitor these flows for systemic risk signals.

Expert Commentary

"The timing is surgical. Laundering during extreme fear allows hackers to blend with panic selling. On-chain data indicates this is a calculated liquidity grab, not a random exit. Market participants should watch for follow-on transactions that could signal further distribution." — CoinMarketBuzz Intelligence Desk

Market Outlook & Price Scenarios

Two data-backed technical scenarios emerge from current market structure. The 12-month institutional outlook remains cautious due to regulatory overhangs. However, Ethereum's upcoming Pectra upgrade could improve network efficiency.

• Bullish Invalidation Level: $2,200. A break above this order block resistance would confirm a short-term trend reversal, invalidating the bearish structure.
• Bearish Invalidation Level: $2,050. A sustained break below this Fibonacci support level would signal further downside, potentially targeting the $1,950 zone.

Historical cycles suggest such events often resolve within 3-6 months. The 5-year horizon depends on Ethereum's scalability improvements and regulatory clarity. Institutional adoption may slow temporarily if laundering volumes increase.