Boltz has halted its Bitcoin swap service following sustained AI-driven attacks, citing an inability to mitigate ongoing infrastructure targeting. The suspension, announced on August 3, follows earlier disruptions including the temporary disablement of EVM swaps on August 1 and service outages in June. The company described the attacks as “automated probing” that overwhelmed its systems, though its non-custodial design ensured customer funds remained secure.
The firm’s original founders—Michael Kilian, Karl, and another unnamed individual—have stepped down, with no formal role in the project’s future. A new team of “veteran Bitcoiners” is now overseeing the project, though the group has not yet been identified. No timeline for resuming swap services was provided, and the extent of AI’s role in the attacks remains unclear.
Researchers using AI-assisted methods recently identified 4,962 software issues across 390 Bitcoin-related open-source projects, including 85 critical vulnerabilities. Boltz stated that the risk from the attacks “was ours,” but did not specify whether the assaults were linked to North Korea-linked group Kimsuky, which has reportedly used AI tools for security purposes. The company’s new leadership has not disclosed details of its security measures or plans to address the infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Written by James Tobias
Bitcoin Desk
