TLDR
Several major chains have recently introduced or disclosed protocol?level or validator?level freeze functions per a Bybit Lazarus Security Lab report on 12 Nov 2025 %%CKPROTECTED0%%.
- Hardcoded examples include BNB Chain (BNB), VeChain (VET), Chiliz (CHZ), Viction (VIC), and XDC Network (XDC) analysis.
- Configuration?based adds include Sui (SUI) and Aptos (APT), plus Harmony, EOS, Oasis, WAX, Waves, and Linea summary.
- Heco Chain uses an on?chain smart contract blacklist to execute freezes note.
Deep Dive
1. Hardcoded Freezes
Hardcoded mechanisms are embedded in the chains source code.
- BNB Chain and VeChain have protocol?level blacklist functions; Chiliz, Viction, and XDC Network are also identified as hardcoded implementations overview.
- These powers have been used in practice: BNB Chain limited transfers after the 2022 bridge exploit and VeChain froze stolen funds in 2019 %%CKPROTECTED0%%.
If an address is blacklisted at protocol level, transactions can be blocked without user consent until the list is changed.
2. Configuration?Based Freezes
Validator or foundation settings (private blacklists) can block transactions after a node restart.
- Sui and Aptos support validator?level blacklists; other examples cited include Harmony, EOS, Oasis, WAX, Waves, and Linea details.
- Sui froze about $162 million after the May 2025 Cetus hack with community approval, and Aptos added a freeze tool shortly after recap.
Governance plus validator coordination can quickly halt suspect wallets, but introduces centralization risk if processes lack transparency.
3. Contract?Based Freezes
Some networks implement freezes via system?level smart contracts.
- Heco Chain is highlighted as using an on?chain blacklist contract to execute freezes analysis.
- The same report notes many other networks could add similar capabilities with modest code changes, particularly modular ecosystems summary.
Contract?based freezes are visible on?chain, but still concentrate authority in the entity that controls the system contract.
Conclusion
Per recent research, freeze functions now exist across multiple chains via hardcoded, configuration, or contract mechanisms. The security upside is faster incident response, but the trade?off is increased centralization and censorship risk. If this matters for your usage, review each chains governance disclosures and incident history in the articles above, and weigh transparency and control concentration when selecting where to build or hold assets.
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