Maestrobots, a popular cryptocurrency trading bot group, fully refunded users after an attack on its Ethereum Router 2 contract in October 2023. The attack allowed hackers to move tokens from wallets that had approved the router.
The group announced the refund on October 25, 2023. It said it had returned more than 610 ETH to affected users, worth over $1 million at the time. The team had found the attack within about 30 minutes and stopped the vulnerable router.
The attack caused about 280 ETH in losses after hackers used a flaw that allowed unwanted token transfers. Maestrobots replaced the router logic with a Counter contract and stopped further losses. The incident and refund process were completed within about 10 hours.
???? Wrapping up the Exploit Saga
➡️ First things first:
Maestro: Router 2 was exploited about 10 hours ago on ETH Mainnet, and some tokens (not ETH) were siphoned away. Within 30 minutes of the start of the attack, our team identified and fully removed the exploit. If you’re…
— Maestro???????? (@MaestroBots) October 25, 2023
How the Maestro exploit happened
The attack focused on Router 2, a smart contract used to help Maestro users trade tokens. The contract had a flaw that allowed an attacker to make calls that were not supposed to be allowed. This meant the attacker could use token approvals from users to move their assets.
The loss of tokens worth about 280 ETH was much smaller than the total refund. Maestrobots used its own funds to make users whole rather than making them wait for the stolen tokens to be recovered.
We regret to inform our users that the Maestro Router was compromised tonight. We have swiftly taken action and revoked all the router’s functionalities.
For those who were affected, full refunds will be issued out. For those who were not affected, your tokens are fully safe from this point onwards, since the router’s functionalities have been fully revoked. Trading through the bot is temporarily disabled.
Wallets were not compromised at all during this attack. This was purely directed at the Router. We apologize for the error, and anyone who was hurt will be made whole.
We’re looking at around 280 ETH to be refunded so far. More details to follow soon.
#MaestroBots
— Maestro🤖🤖 (@MaestroBots) October 25, 2023
For nine of the 11 affected tokens, the team bought back the same tokens and returned them to users. For JOE and LMI, where buying back the tokens was harder, Maestrobots paid users in ETH and added a 20% bonus. The total compensation reached about 610 ETH.
The quick response mattered because trading bots often hold or receive permission to move user funds. A bug in a key contract can therefore affect many wallets at once. In Maestro’s case, the upgradeable design also allowed the team to replace the faulty logic without creating a completely new router.
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Maestro kept building after the attack
The exploit did not end Maestro’s service. The company still operates its Telegram trading bot and now supports Ethereum, BNB Chain, Solana, Base, Arbitrum, Avalanche, Tron, TON and several newer networks. Its current tools include copy trading, limit orders, automated buying, wallet tracking and token bridging.
Maestro has also expanded beyond the Ethereum setup involved in the 2023 attack. In 2026, the platform added support for newer networks such as Arc and Robinhood Chain. This shows that the project has continued to develop instead of treating the exploit as the end of its business.
The incident remains useful for users of trading bots because it shows why smart-contract permissions matter. A user may trust a trading tool, but the contracts behind that tool can still contain bugs. Fast refunds can reduce the damage, but they do not remove the need for security checks.
Maestrobots’ response also set a clear example of how a crypto project can handle a user-loss event. It found the attack quickly, stopped the vulnerable contract and used its own funds to refund affected users. The project is still active today, but the 2023 exploit remains an important reminder that automated trading tools carry smart-contract risks.
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