The Owner of a certain Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) NFT faced a strange web3 crime and self-custody ordeal after losing and reacquiring their digital ape.
BAYC is a collection of 10,000 unique digital apes on the Ethereum blockchain. Some apes are rarer and more valuable than others due to their distinctive traits and characteristics.
Additionally, BAYC NFTs grant owners exclusive advantages, such as a private online community and merchandise.
The sequence of eventsÂ
A Twitter user with the handle @Yieldasaurus claimed that a hacker exploited a vulnerability in their wallet to steal their Bored Ape NFT.
Yieldasaurus pleaded with the hacker to return the ape, offering to pay 0.08 ETH (approximately $300) for its return.
However, the hacker refused and demanded 66 ETH (about $250,000) for the ape. The hacker used another Twitter user, @Khalissman, as a mediator to negotiate the deal.
Khalissman claimed they were not involved in the theft and were only trying to help Yieldasaurus recover their ape.
Yieldasaurus consented to pay 58 ETH (about $220,000) to get their ape back. However, in doing so, they also exposed Khalissman as a possible accomplice to the crime.
Khalissman has a verified Twitter account, which means they provided some personal information to Twitter that could be used to identify them.
Twitter users suggested that Khalissman could be charged with aiding and abetting a theft or even be the actual thief. If Yieldasaurus decides to press charges, Khalissman may be required to disclose who they worked with to sell the stolen ape.
Possible Implications for Web3
This incident shows that Web3 is not immune to fraud and criminal activity and that self-custody requires vigilance and responsibility. It also indicates that Web3 criminals are not very smart, as they can easily incriminate themselves on social media.
Bored Ape NFTs have a high demand and value in the market, drawing the attention of celebrities and influencers. But they also lure hackers and scammers who exploit unsuspecting or negligent owners.
Therefore, Bored Ape owners should take extra measures to protect their digital assets and avoid becoming victims of Web3 crime.