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Cetus: score, security record and what it is for

55/100SCORE · CCaution Grade C, fair

Cetus is the main decentralised exchange on Sui. In May 2025 around 220 million dollars was drained through a flaw in an overflow check. Sui validators froze much of the stolen value, which recovered most of it and raised uncomfortable questions about how much control the validator set holds.

The facts

LIVE SINCE
2023
TYPE
AMM
CHAINS
Sui, Aptos
SWAP FEE
Tiered by pool.
AUDITS
Audited, which did not prevent the 2025 exploit.
WHO CAN CHANGE IT
CETUS token, with significant team control.

How the score breaks down

security11/30
liquidity13/25
chains9/15
costs13/15
decentralisation9/15

Where it is strong and where it is not

✓ Strengths
  • The main liquidity venue on Sui
  • Much of the stolen value was frozen and recovered
✗ Weaknesses
  • Around 220 million dollars drained in 2025
  • The recovery relied on validators freezing funds, which cuts against the point of a decentralised chain
  • Young protocol

Exploit history

2025

Around 220 million dollars was drained in May 2025 through an overflow check flaw in a maths library. Sui validators froze a large portion of the stolen funds, which was effective and also demonstrated how much control the validator set holds.

Our read

A very large 2025 exploit, most of it recovered because Sui validators could freeze the funds. That recovery is genuinely good for affected users and genuinely uncomfortable for anyone who assumed the chain was censorship resistant.
BEFORE YOU SWAP
Swap keeps failingSlippage, approvals, taxes and thin liquidity. Revoke approvalsEvery swap leaves a permission behind. Clear them. Gas tokensWhy you need the chain's native coin first. Pick a walletYou need self custody before you can use any DEX.
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