Kevin Pawlak, previously the lead of ventures at NFT platform OpenSea, has come under scrutiny over alleged ties to the AnubisDAO scandal of 2021. These claims surfaced on October 6 from an anonymous NFT Ethics account on X (previously known as Twitter).
While OpenSea has clarified that no concrete evidence connects him to the purported cryptocurrency fraud, the matter has sparked discussions and inquiries within the crypto sphere. However, concrete evidence implicating Pawlak in the situation is yet to be found.
Allegations Emerge on Social Media
NFT Ethics called out OpenSea in their X thread, seeking a reaction to the claims surrounding Kevin Pawlak. The thread hinted at a potential link between Pawlak and an anonymous figure referred to as “0xSisyphus,” insinuating that Pawlak might have been involved in “several dubious business activities.”
To reinforce their accusations, NFT Ethics delved into Ethereum transaction records. Their investigation highlighted that an Ethereum address, beginning with “0xBB5B”, had set up multiple domain names, including kevinpawlak.eth and pawlak.eth, on October 4, 2021.
Further examination disclosed that the pawlak.eth and sisyphus.eth addresses were active in the creation of Zorbs tokens and sismo.eth DAO tokens in close succession. Nonetheless, skeptics argue that this evidence isn’t definitive and doesn’t solidly connect Pawlak to the AnubisDAO scandal.
The AnubisDAO Incident: A Brief Overview
In October 2021, the crypto community was rocked by the AnubisDAO rug pull incident. AnubisDAO successfully gathered 13,556 Ether from investors, which was valued at roughly $60 million at that period. However, in a swift turn of events within 20 hours, the amassed funds were distributed across various wallet addresses, leaving investors with significant financial setbacks. Brian Nguyen, a participant who invested in AnubisDAO, relayed his distressing experience to CNBC, revealing that he incurred a staggering loss of $470,000 due to the debacle.
However, regarding the recent suspicions cast upon Pawlak, not everyone is convinced. Renowned blockchain expert, ZachXBT, expressed reservations about the claims made by NFT Ethics. Labeling the thread by NFT Ethics as “mid-curve”, he insinuated that the accusations might not be backed by substantial proof. ZachXBT underscored that a significant portion of the conjecture surrounding 0xSisyphus’s participation in the AnubisDAO event hinges on “events that aren’t demonstrably interconnected.”
Interestingly, 0xSisyphus had earlier put forth a 1,000 ETH reward for any intel that would lead to the unmasking of the wallet that drained the AnubisDAO funds. Coupled with active probes by the legal authorities of both the United States and Hong Kong, the matter becomes even more intricate.
As OpenSea seeks to keep itself at arm’s length from the unfolding drama, the episode highlights wider concerns in the crypto sector, specifically issues surrounding accountability and transparency.
To date, there’s no irrefutable evidence connecting Pawlak to the AnubisDAO event, leaving the door open for continued inquiries and a lively debate among the public.
