Crypto Exchange Bybit Suffers Largest Hack in History, Losing Nearly US$ 1.5 Billion

Crypto Exchange Bybit Suffers Largest Hack in History, Losing Nearly US$ 1.5 Billion
System hacked: Crypto exchange Bybit

Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, has fallen victim to the biggest hacker attack in the industry's history. Last Friday (21), cybercriminals managed to steal approximately US$ 1.46 billion (R$ 8.33 billion) from the platform’s wallets. This heist surpasses other major past attacks, such as the US$ 625 million stolen from Ronin Network in 2022 and the US$ 473 million stolen from Mt. Gox in 2014.


The Attack and Its Revelation
The incident was initially discovered by blockchain expert ZachXBT and later confirmed by Bybit CEO Ben Zhou. According to Zhou, the company has enough liquidity to cover the losses and assured that withdrawals are still operating normally.

According to initial analyses, the attack targeted one of Bybit’s cold wallets, an offline Ethereum (ETH) storage, from which approximately 401,346 ETH, along with several units of stETH tokens, were transferred to an unknown address.
Market Impact and Security Challenges
This attack highlights the security challenges faced by cryptocurrency exchanges. While cold wallets are considered one of the safest ways to store digital assets, this incident demonstrates that even this type of protection is not foolproof.

Experts suggest that exchanges need to strengthen their security measures with additional protection layers, such as enhanced multi-factor authentication and continuous monitoring of unusual transactions.

Bybit’s Response and the Crypto Community’s Reaction
Bybit has stated that it is working with authorities and cybersecurity experts to track the stolen funds and enhance its security systems. Meanwhile, blockchain analysis companies, such as Arkham Intelligence, are monitoring the addresses linked to the attack and offering rewards for information that could lead to those responsible.

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