Token Exploit

Definition ∞ A token exploit is a security breach or attack targeting vulnerabilities in a cryptocurrency token’s smart contract or its underlying protocol. This malicious act takes advantage of flaws in the token’s code, logic, or associated decentralized applications to illegally gain control of assets, manipulate token supply, or drain liquidity. Exploits can range from reentrancy attacks and flash loan manipulations to governance attacks, resulting in significant financial losses for users and protocol operators. Such incidents undermine confidence in the security of digital assets.
Context ∞ Token exploits represent a persistent threat within the decentralized finance ecosystem, frequently making headlines due to the substantial financial damage they cause. News reports detail these events, often leading to immediate price drops for the affected tokens and increased scrutiny of smart contract auditing practices. The industry continually seeks more robust security measures, including bug bounties and formal verification, to prevent future occurrences and safeguard digital asset integrity.