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Binance Hack: $6.3bn Stolen, Half of Funds Frozen So Far
Binance, the world's biggest cryptocurrency exchange, has been hit by a $6.3bn (£4.7bn) hack that is thought to be the largest in history, according to BBC News.
Binance says roughly half of the stolen assets have been frozen. The rest remains in the hands of the hackers, the exchange said, per BBC News.
How much was stolen in the Binance hack?
The figure stands at $6.3bn, or £4.7bn, BBC News reported. No breakdown of which assets were taken has been disclosed in the reporting so far.
Who is suspected of carrying out the attack?
Two analytics firms have attributed the hack to a North Korean hacking unit, according to BBC News. No group has claimed responsibility. Binance did not directly respond to questions about a possible North Korea link, the broadcaster said.
How much money has Binance recovered?
Binance said it has "begun recovering" some funds, BBC News reported.
Binance said it has "begun recovering" some funds.
The exchange has not given a dollar figure for how much has been clawed back beyond the roughly half already described as frozen, per the available reporting.
At a glance
- Total stolen: $6.3bn (£4.7bn)
- Share frozen by Binance: about half
- Attribution: two analytics firms point to a North Korean hacking unit
- Claims of responsibility: none
What should Binance users do now?
BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy addressed what affected users should do in a video explainer carried by BBC News. The specific steps were detailed in that video rather than in text, and readers directly affected should consult BBC News' live coverage of the hack for Tidy's guidance.
What happens next?
Binance's public statements so far cover three points: the size of the theft, the share frozen, and the start of a recovery effort. The exchange has not confirmed or denied the North Korea attribution offered by the two analytics firms cited by BBC News.
What to watch
- Whether any individual or group claims responsibility for the hack
- Whether Binance confirms or disputes the North Korea attribution
- Updated figures on how much of the $6.3bn has been recovered
- Any regulatory response tied to the scale of the breach
BBC News is maintaining live coverage of developments. The network's cyber correspondent, Joe Tidy, has been providing ongoing analysis of the incident and its implications for exchange users.
Questions
How much money was stolen in the Binance hack?
Binance says hackers took $6.3bn (£4.7bn), which BBC News describes as thought to be the biggest crypto hack in history.
Who is believed to be responsible for the Binance hack?
Two analytics firms have attributed the attack to a North Korean hacking unit, according to BBC News, though no group has claimed responsibility and Binance did not directly address the North Korea link.
Has Binance recovered any of the stolen funds?
Binance has frozen roughly half of the stolen assets and said it has 'begun recovering' some funds, per BBC News.