Threshold Network Pauses Optimistic Minting After Failed tBTC Mint Attempt

Threshold Network states that an attacker tried to mint tBTC without depositing Bitcoin, prompting a pause of Optimistic Minting while the protocol shifted to a slower sweeping mechanism.

BTC
TBTC

Summary

Threshold Network said an attacker attempted to mint tBTC without depositing the required underlying BTC on May 18 at 18:04 Beijing time. The protocol stated that no invalid tBTC was created and user funds were not at risk. In response, Threshold Network paused Optimistic Minting and moved minting to the sweeping mechanism, increasing processing time from about 1.5 hours to roughly 6 to 7 hours.

Terms & Concepts
  • tBTC: A tokenized form of Bitcoin designed to represent BTC on other blockchain networks while remaining backed by underlying Bitcoin.
  • Optimistic Minting: A faster token issuance process that reduces wait times under normal conditions by allowing minting before final settlement steps are completed.
  • sweeping mechanism: A slower minting path that waits for underlying Bitcoin movement and consolidation steps, resulting in longer processing times.