Bybit proposes to request the ParaSwap DAO to return the fees obtained from the hacker exchange

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has confirmed that it has initiated a proposal requesting the decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol ParaSwap to return the transaction fees generated from trading with digital assets stolen from the exchange by the Lazarus hacker group.

On March 4, a proposal was published on the ParaSwap decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) forum, requesting the freezing and return of 44.67 wETH worth nearly $100,000. The proposal initially raised skepticism, with several DAO members demanding verification of its origin. Bybit posted a verification message on its official X account on March 5, confirming that the proposal was initiated by them.

This proposal for fund return sparked intense discussions among DAO members. DeFi researcher and ParaSwap DAO representative Ignas pointed out that profiting from a hacker attack gives a "bad image" to the DAO, and returning the funds would demonstrate support for industry peers. He added that retaining these funds could attract regulatory scrutiny and legal troubles. However, he also warned that refunds would set a dangerous precedent for DeFi: "Code is law. The DAO legally earned the fees through smart contracts. If we return the funds now, what happens in similar situations in the future? This would set a dangerous precedent."

Opinions among ParaSwap DAO members are divided, with some supporting conditional refunds of the fees, while others voted against the refund. DAO member SEED Gov proposed three possible courses of action: full refund, rejection of the request, or negotiating a structured refund that includes retaining 10% as a bounty, consistent with Bybit's existing bug bounty program.