SwirlLend disappears with $460K in apparent exit scam on Base and Linea

Quick Take

  • SwirlLend, a lending protocol operating on Ethereum Layer 2 networks Base and Linea, has allegedly executed an exit scam.
  • An estimated $460,000 in user deposits were taken, with $290,000 drained from Base and $170,000 from Linea.

SwirlLend, a lending project operating on the Ethereum Layer 2 networks Base and Linea, has seemingly executed an exit scam, making off with an estimated $460,000 in user deposits.

According to on-chain analysis from security firm PeckShield, the SwirlLend team drained $290,000 in crypto assets from Base and $170,000 from Linea, then transferred the funds to Ethereum. The user deposits on SwirlLend plummeted from $780,000 to merely $49, according to DeFiLlama data, as the event unfolded.

The digital presence of SwirlLend has seemingly been erased, as its social media accounts on Twitter and Telegram have been deleted, and the official website remains inaccessible.

PeckShield calls it a 'rug pull'

PeckShield characterized the actions as a “rug pull,” a practice where developers of a crypto project run away with user-deposited funds.

THE SCOOP

Keep up with the latest news, trends, charts and views on crypto and DeFi with a new biweekly newsletter from The Block's Frank Chaparro

By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
By signing-up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

This incident is the second significant rug pull on the Base network in recent times, following a similar situation involving the Bald memecoin. Bald, a memecoin once boasting a valuation of $85 million, saw its value collapse to nearly zero after its unknown developer withdrew liquidity from the main pool.


© 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

About Author

Vishal Chawla is The Block’s crypto ecosystems editor and has spent over six years covering tech protocols, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Vishal likes to delve deep into blockchain intricacies to ensure readers are well-informed about the continuously evolving crypto landscape. He is also a staunch advocate for rigorous security practices in the space. Before joining The Block, Vishal held positions at IDG ComputerWorld, CIO, and Crypto Briefing. He can be reached on Twitter at @vishal4c and via email at [email protected]

Editor

To contact the editor of this story:
Tim Copeland at
[email protected]