TLDR
- A shadowy programmer, Hu Lezhi, incinerated and gave away Ethereum valuing close to $7 million, precisely 2,553 ETH.
- From this mind-boggling sum, 603 ETH, which equals around $1.65 million, was sent down a one-way street to a burn address.
- Over the course of these events, more than 700 ETH, equating to nearly $2 million, found its way to organizations such as Wikileaks.
- Lezhi declared himself a target of surveillance by a 'brain-control group,' and pointed fingers at WizardQuant Capital for employing 'mind-manipulating tech.'
- One final message tied to a transaction on February 17, 2025, spoke about leaving this earthly realm.
A developer in the shadows, going by the name Hu Lezhi, disposed of and dispensed nearly $7 million in Ethereum in a series of intriguing transactions over a week's span, leaving behind a perplexing digital breadcrumb trail.
In these transactions, one saw 603 ETH, worth $1.65 million, sent straight into the void, never to circulate again, as it hit the notorious ETH burn address, decreasing Ethereum's available pool.
someone burned $1.65M in ETH
& donated $5.35M to WikiLeaks
to get people to read these messagesbut y\"all still can\"t shut up about $LIBRA scam that\"s already been solved
wake tf up people 😑 pic.twitter.com/JOXatbc0PC
— sidus 🖤 (@sidussol) February 17, 2025
Aside from the incinerated tokens, Lezhi's charitable gestures included more than 700 ETH, amounting to about $2 million, directed to platforms like Wikileaks. Messages laced with his belief in prolonged observation followed these donations.
Attention from the crypto circles was captured by the significant transfers to the burn address, noticeable not just for their sheer value but for the narrative left behind.
Lezhi, through his digital communiqués, claimed a lifelong surveillance ordeal by a mysterious 'brain-control organization,' allegedly starting in October 2022 when he became aware of its dubious presence.
The narrative darkened with accusations against heads at the Chinese hedge fund, WizardQuant Capital, of deploying 'mind-computer devices' to control staff. The fund, with origins rooted in veteran Wall Street experience, remains silent over these severe charges.
An on-chain note by Lezhi eerily described a sinister mode of criminality, where individuals lose autonomy, turning into pawns of the digital age. Fears of forfeiting personal dignity loomed large in his thoughts.
Here's what I've pieced together about the anonymous individual who burned and dispensed wealth totaling in the millions.
Total burnt: $1,650,000 (603 ETH)
Total donated: $5,350,000 (1,950 ETH)Messages on-chain:
Leaders of a hedge fund, Feng Xin and Xu Yuzhi from Kuande Investment, were accused by Lezhi of wielding mind-influencing technology. pic.twitter.com/eQbd7QmZNg
— Loopify 🧙♂️ (@Loopifyyy) February 17, 2025
The unconventional moves by this programmer sparked varied reactions within the cryptocurrency circles. Some enthusiastically reached out through blockchain messengers, seeking financial aid or empathizing over similar personal predicaments.
Insight from crypto experts highlighted that the reduction of tokens, though atypical, bore economic implications for Ethereum. Withdrawing 603 ETH from the mix represents a deflationary maneuver, modifying token supply scenarios.
Market Analysis
Market intelligence indicated a decline in the annual inflation rate, dropping to 0.73% over the past seven days, emblematic of a reduced supply trajectory. This change might sway future prices should demand either outpace or match the trend. that Ethereum’s On February 17, 2025, at 7:13:35 AM UTC, Lezhi performed his last traceable action. This final note on the blockchain, directed at WikiLeaks, reiterated claims of lifelong monitoring and his looming departure from this realm.
These exchanges have seen validation on the decentralized ledger, with both sums and messages accessible to the public. The burn address (0x00000), synonymous with erasing tokens from existence, was central to this affair.
Concerns have been raised regarding the mental state inferred from the communications, yet others dwelled on the technical profundities of such a hefty token burn. the Ethereum Crypto aficionados keep an observant eye on the wallet for fresh moves, albeit it's remained inactive since the February 17 entry.
The amassed proportion from these operations constitutes one of the notable token burns for Ethereum in recent memory. However, the market disruptiveness is tempered by Ethereum's expansive trade volume.
Throughout this chain of transactions, every message registered indelibly on the Ethereum network, fabricating a persistent record of financial exchanges and their ensuing discourse.
Maisie, a veteran reporter in cryptocurrency and finance, has penned for leading outlets like Moneycheck.com, level-up-casino-app.com and serves as Editor in Chief at Blockfresh.com.
Ethereum's (ETH) worth faced a 45% downturn in the first quarter of 2025, even though it leads in decentralized exchange trades.