ECHO token plunges after $76M admin key exploit hits protocol

• Echo Admin key compromise enabled $76.7M unauthorized eBTC minting.
• The attacker used fake eBTC to borrow and bridge real crypto assets.
• ECHO token dropped sharply as panic selling hit the market fast.

The ECHO token came under severe pressure after a major security breach tied to the Echo Protocol led to the unauthorized minting of roughly $76.7 million worth of eBTC, triggering a sharp loss of confidence across the ecosystem.

The exploit centered on a compromise of privileged access controls, allowing an attacker to bypass normal minting restrictions and generate synthetic assets without collateral.

The exploit quickly escalated from a technical breach into a full-scale market disruption.

Within hours of the attack becoming known, the ECHO token recorded a steep double-digit decline as traders rushed to exit positions amid uncertainty over the protocol’s stability and the status of the inflated eBTC supply.

Admin key compromise enabled unlimited minting of eBTC

The core of the exploit was a compromise of an admin-level private key, which granted the attacker control over minting permissions inside the Echo Protocol system.

With that access, the ...