#Circle拒冻结Drift被盗USDC

#Circle拒冻结Drift被盗USDC Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire has sparked intense backlash after confirming that the company will not freeze USDC wallets linked to the recent Drift Protocol hack unless ordered by a court. The DeFi protocol was exploited for approximately $280 million in early April 2026, with around $230 million of that total being USDC.

What makes the situation particularly damning is that the attacker used Circle’s own Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP) to move funds from Solana to Ethereum. Over six consecutive hours, the hacker executed more than 100 transactions while Circle remained silent, allowing the theft to continue unimpeded.

Circle's Defense

In a press conference in Seoul, Allaire defended the decision by stating that Circle follows the "rule of law" and will only freeze wallets at the direction of law enforcement or courts. He described unilateral freezing as a "major moral dilemma" and a "very risky proposition," warning that a private company should not get to decide "what is the right path or not."

He acknowledged current legal gaps and stated that Circle is working with U.S. lawmakers on the CLARITY Act to establish a "safe harbor" for stablecoin issuers under extreme circumstances. However, he stressed that such authority must come from legislation, not corporate discretion.

ZachXBT's Allegations

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has been the most vocal critic, publishing a detailed report alleging that Circle’s compliance failures have led to over $420 million in illicit USDC flows since 2022. He highlighted that Circle’s own terms of service grant the company the right to freeze and blacklist addresses. In the Drift case, despite the funds moving through Circle’s own infrastructure for hours, no action was taken.

Similar patterns have emerged in other cases. The Cetus Protocol hack saw $61 million in USDC bridged over 1.5 hours, yet Circle blacklisted the address one month later after funds had already been converted to ETH. The SwapNet hack saw $3 million remain in a hacker wallet for two days despite freeze requests from authorities.

Illegal Links and Broader Implications

The Drift attack has been linked by blockchain analytics firm Elliptic to North Korean state-sponsored hackers, likely the Lazarus Group. This raises serious questions about Circle’s role in potentially enabling state-backed cybercrime to launder funds through its own infrastructure.

Critics have also pointed to inconsistencies in Circle’s enforcement. ZachXBT noted that Circle recently froze 16 legitimate business wallets without explanation, yet refused to act on the Drift hack. This selective enforcement has led many to question the company’s priorities and competence.

As the second-largest stablecoin issuer with over $75 billion in circulation, Circle’s stance could have far-reaching consequences. If stolen USDC cannot be frozen without court orders that take days or weeks to obtain, hackers will continue exploiting this regulatory gap, knowing that funds can be moved and laundered before any legal action is taken.

The incident highlights a fundamental tension between blockchain speed and legal procedure. While Allaire argues for legislative clarity, victims of the Drift hack are left wondering why a company that markets itself as a compliant, regulated alternative to Tether failed to act when it mattered most.#Circle拒冻结Drift被盗USDC #