Blockchain Freeze Mechanisms Analyzed in New Report

According to Odaily, Bybit's Lazarus Security Lab has released a report titled "Unveiling Blockchain Freezes: Examining the Impact of Blockchain Fund Freezing Capabilities." The report reveals that out of 166 blockchain networks analyzed, 16 contain code that can directly freeze or restrict user funds, while 19 others could achieve similar functionality with minor protocol adjustments. The report categorizes fund freezing mechanisms into three types: hard-coded freezes, such as those on BNB Chain and VeChain; configuration-based freezes set by validators or foundations, like on Sui and Aptos; and contract freezes executed by system contracts, as seen on HECO. Examples cited in the report include Sui freezing $162 million in assets following the Cetus hack, Aptos adding a blacklist feature, BNB Chain using a hard blacklist to prevent the transfer of $570 million in cross-chain vulnerability funds, and VeChain's precedent-setting freeze of $6.6 million in stolen funds in 2019. David Zong, Bybit's Head of Risk and Security, noted that while blockchain is fundamentally decentralized, many chains are adopting more pragmatic security measures to address potential threats. He emphasized that transparency should be central to governance, urging project teams to proactively disclose related emergency mechanisms.