The hacker who drained $285 million from Drift Protocol strikes again, shuffling 185 SOL—valued at $15,000—to the ChangeNow exchange on the Solana blockchain. Security firm PeckShieldAlert flagged this transaction on April 7, 2026, highlighting ongoing efforts by the perpetrator to launder stolen funds amid heightened scrutiny in the crypto sector.

Tracing the Exploiter's Moves

This small transfer follows the massive exploit that rocked Drift Protocol, a decentralized finance platform, exposing vulnerabilities in Solana's ecosystem. Analysts point to similar incidents over the past six months, like the Pump.fun breach in late 2025, where attackers exploited smart contract flaws to siphon millions. Solana security remains a hot topic, with regulators pushing for stricter DeFi protocols to curb such thefts.

ChangeNow, known for its no-KYC swaps, often serves as a gateway for illicit crypto flows. This move underscores the challenges in tracking blockchain transactions, even as tools from firms like PeckShield enhance detection. Market watchers warn that persistent exploits could erode investor confidence in Solana blockchain projects, prompting calls for advanced auditing standards.