Cetus Hack on Sui Network: What Happened and Why SUI Price Is Crashing

What Is Cetus Protocol and What Happened?

Cetus Protocol is the largest decentralized exchange (DEX) on the Sui blockchain, offering capital-efficient trading through concentrated liquidity pools. On May 22, 2025, Cetus was exploited for $260 million in one of the biggest DeFi attacks this year.

The attacker used spoofed tokens—fake tokens posing as legitimate assets—to manipulate liquidity pools. By exploiting weaknesses in token verification, the attacker tricked the protocol into swapping real funds for fake ones, siphoning off massive liquidity in minutes.

Sui Foundation’s Immediate Response

Sui Network and the Sui Foundation quickly responded to the crisis. In partnership with Inca Digital, they backed a $5 million bounty for any information leading to the identification and arrest of the attacker(s).

"Our priority remains protecting the community and supporting a positive resolution," Sui Network posted on X.

So far, the attacker has not responded, and no arrests have been made. But the bounty remains active, and the investigation is ongoing.

By TradingView - SUIUSD_2025-05-23 (1D)

Why Is SUI Price Crashing?

Following the hack, SUI is now trading at approximately $3.68 , down about 5.5% in the last 24 hours. The drop reflects shaken investor confidence and renewed fears around DeFi safety, despite Sui’s core infrastructure remaining intact.

Key Technical Indicators:

SUI is testing psychological support at $3.60–$3.50.

RSI near 40 suggests moderate bearish momentum with room for recovery.

Volume spikes hint at both fear-driven exits and strategic accumulation.

SUI Price Prediction: Where Could It Go Next?

Despite short-term pain, SUI’s long-term fundamentals remain solid:

Ongoing ecosystem development and institutional support.

Strong DeFi adoption—although now under review.

Immediate transparency and proactive communication by the Sui Foundation.

Bullish Case: If sentiment stabilises and a resolution emerges, SUI could rebound toward $4.20–$4.50 in the coming weeks.
Bearish Case: If no progress is made on fund recovery and community distrust escalates, SUI may dip to $3.20, with $2.80 as a critical long-term support.

By TradingView - SUIUSD_2025-05-23 (5D)

Broader Implications for Sui

While the Sui protocol itself wasn’t breached, the exploit highlights urgent needs in the ecosystem:

• Better token listing verification on DEXs.
• Mandatory smart contract audits and spoof detection systems.
• Stronger risk controls in liquidity management.

The Sui Foundation’s rapid response, combined with financial support and public transparency, could help turn this crisis into a learning opportunity—paving the way for tighter security and greater long-term trust.

What Is Cetus Protocol and What Happened?

Cetus Protocol is the largest decentralized exchange (DEX) on the Sui blockchain, offering capital-efficient trading through concentrated liquidity pools. On May 22, 2025, Cetus was exploited for $260 million in one of the biggest DeFi attacks this year.

The attacker used spoofed tokens—fake tokens posing as legitimate assets—to manipulate liquidity pools. By exploiting weaknesses in token verification, the attacker tricked the protocol into swapping real funds for fake ones, siphoning off massive liquidity in minutes.

Sui Foundation’s Immediate Response

Sui Network and the Sui Foundation quickly responded to the crisis. In partnership with Inca Digital, they backed a $5 million bounty for any information leading to the identification and arrest of the attacker(s).

"Our priority remains protecting the community and supporting a positive resolution," Sui Network posted on X.

So far, the attacker has not responded, and no arrests have been made. But the bounty remains active, and the investigation is ongoing.

By TradingView - SUIUSD_2025-05-23 (1D)

Why Is SUI Price Crashing?

Following the hack, SUI is now trading at approximately $3.68 , down about 5.5% in the last 24 hours. The drop reflects shaken investor confidence and renewed fears around DeFi safety, despite Sui’s core infrastructure remaining intact.

Key Technical Indicators:

SUI is testing psychological support at $3.60–$3.50.

RSI near 40 suggests moderate bearish momentum with room for recovery.

Volume spikes hint at both fear-driven exits and strategic accumulation.

SUI Price Prediction: Where Could It Go Next?

Despite short-term pain, SUI’s long-term fundamentals remain solid:

Ongoing ecosystem development and institutional support.

Strong DeFi adoption—although now under review.

Immediate transparency and proactive communication by the Sui Foundation.

Bullish Case: If sentiment stabilises and a resolution emerges, SUI could rebound toward $4.20–$4.50 in the coming weeks.
Bearish Case: If no progress is made on fund recovery and community distrust escalates, SUI may dip to $3.20, with $2.80 as a critical long-term support.

By TradingView - SUIUSD_2025-05-23 (5D)

Broader Implications for Sui

While the Sui protocol itself wasn’t breached, the exploit highlights urgent needs in the ecosystem:

• Better token listing verification on DEXs.
• Mandatory smart contract audits and spoof detection systems.
• Stronger risk controls in liquidity management.

The Sui Foundation’s rapid response, combined with financial support and public transparency, could help turn this crisis into a learning opportunity—paving the way for tighter security and greater long-term trust.