- Shiba Inu recovery launch questioned after K9 exclusion
- K9 Finance challenges SOU claim process transparency concerns
- Shibarium hack compensation plan faces community scrutiny
Shiba Inu’s new recovery framework has entered a critical phase after questions emerged over a missing participant. This week, the SHIB team rolled out SOU, short for Shib Owes You, to assist users affected by last September’s Shibarium hack. However, the launch quickly drew attention after K9 Finance claimed exclusion from the claims process.
According to posts shared by K9 Finance on X, the project considers itself the largest impacted community from the Shibarium bridge exploit. The team referenced a prior message from Shiba Inu developer Kaal Dhairya. In that 2025 year end note, he expressed an intention to make affected users whole. Consequently, K9 Finance argued that its omission contradicts that earlier assurance.
The SHIB team has not publicly explained the exclusion at press time. However, K9 Finance urged affected users to reach out directly to the Shiba Inu team. Additionally, it asked its own community to stay alert while awaiting clarification. This development has shifted focus from the recovery rollout to transparency concerns.
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K9 Sunset Decision Adds New Layer to Dispute
Earlier this year, K9 Finance announced plans to sunset its Shibarium products. According to its January statement, the DAO approved a permanent shutdown effective Feb. 25, 2026. The decision followed the September bridge exploit that disrupted operations. Moreover, K9 reminded users this week to withdraw assets from Bonecrusher before the deadline.
Although the timing overlaps with the SOU rollout, no official link confirms that the sunset decision led to exclusion. Hence, speculation continues within the community. Some observers believe operational changes may have influenced eligibility criteria. However, neither side has released detailed documentation explaining the parameters.
Meanwhile, the SHIB team described SOU as a cryptographic proof of claim recorded on Ethereum. The system allows impacted users to verify ownership and access potential payouts, donations and periodic rewards. Additionally, the initiative aims to restore trust after the exploit shook confidence in Shibarium’s infrastructure.
Lucie, a Shiba Inu team member, issued a public warning as SOU went live. According to her post on X, scammers have launched fake claim portals targeting users. She cautioned the community to use only the official portal. Moreover, she warned that fraudulent links could drain connected wallets.
Conclusion
The SOU rollout marks a significant step in Shiba Inu’s recovery process. However, K9 Finance’s exclusion has introduced new questions around consistency and communication. As both sides maintain public silence on specifics, the community now awaits further clarification from the SHIB team.
