Base's Largest DEX Hit by $620K Price Manipulation Attack — But There's a Plot Twist

LeetSwap, the go-to DEX on Base, just got drained through a sophisticated price manipulation attack on its axlUSD/WETH pool. The damage? Around $620K vanished into thin air. 📊

Here’s where it gets interesting: the team partnered with white hat devs and managed to claw back 197 ETH so far. But instead of going full scorched-earth on the attacker, LeetSwap is cutting a deal — letting the hacker keep 50 ETH while returning the rest to their distributor wallet. In exchange, they’re offering safe passage across the Base bridge. 🤝

What this tells us:

• Price manipulation attacks remain the lowest-hanging fruit for DEX exploiters
• Recovery negotiations are becoming standard practice (not always a W for users)
• Attackers now have leverage beyond just the funds they stole

This move highlights a growing trend: when recovery is partially possible, protocols are choosing diplomacy over scorched earth. Smart optics or risky precedent? The community’s split on this one. 🧵