Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have charged MIT graduates Anton and James Peraire-Bueno, aged 24 and 28, with stealing $25 million in cryptocurrency by manipulating the Ethereum blockchain in just 12 seconds.
The brothers allegedly exploited a vulnerability in the MEV-boost program used by Ethereum validators. Arrested in Boston and New York, they face charges of wire fraud and money laundering, with potential sentences exceeding 20 years if convicted.
This case, termed "novel" by authorities, raises concerns about blockchain security and integrity. The Peraire-Bueno brothers have yet to comment on the allegations.