Bybit’s Withdrawal System Fully Restored After Major Cyberattack
Key Takeaways:
✔ Bybit has fully restored its withdrawal system after a record-breaking $1.5 billion hack.
✔ A full security report and new protective measures are expected soon.
✔ Blockchain experts suspect North Korea’s Lazarus Group was behind the attack.
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Bybit Restores Withdrawals After $1.5 Billion Crypto Hack
Crypto exchange Bybit has resumed normal withdrawal operations after recovering from one of the largest hacks in crypto history. The attack, which targeted Bybit’s Ethereum cold wallet, resulted in an estimated loss of $1.5 billion in various digital assets.
CEO Ben Zhou confirmed in a post on X that all withdrawals are now fully functional, with no restrictions on transaction amounts or delays.
“12 hours after the worst hack in history, ALL withdrawals have been processed. Our system is back to normal. You can withdraw any amount with no delays. Thank you for your patience, and we sincerely apologize for the incident.” — Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit.
Zhou also assured users that Bybit will release a detailed incident report soon, along with enhanced security measures to prevent future breaches.
Hack Details: $1.4 Billion in Ethereum Stolen
On February 21, blockchain investigator ZachXBT identified suspicious fund movements from Bybit’s wallets. Initial reports indicated that over 400,000 ETH, 90,000 stETH, 15,000 cmETH, and 8,000 mETH were stolen.
The stolen assets, totaling $1.4 billion, were transferred to a blockchain address beginning with ‘0x4766’ and later converted via decentralized exchanges (DEXs).
🔹 Notable Findings:
✔ The hacker tested the exploit by transferring 90 USDT before initiating the large-scale theft.
✔ Bybit’s ETH cold wallet was compromised, but other cold wallets remained secure.
✔ The attacker manipulated a legitimate transaction, tricking signers into unknowingly approving the hack.
Bybit’s team is now working with blockchain security experts to trace the stolen funds and recover assets wherever possible.
Bybit’s Financial Stability: “We Are Solvent”
Despite the staggering losses, Bybit reassured users that the exchange remains financially stable.
💰 How Bybit Covered the Losses:
✔ Bridge loan secured covering 80% of the stolen funds.
✔ Reserve funds will cover the remaining losses if necessary.
✔ No plans to buy back stolen ETH, preventing market price surges.
Additionally, on-chain data confirms that Bybit maintains sufficient reserves to meet all user obligations. BitMEX Research independently verified this information through Bybit’s public reserve data.
Crypto Community Supports Bybit
Top industry players have stepped up to support Bybit in its recovery efforts:
✔ Binance, Bitget, OKX, and KuCoin pledged assistance.
✔ Arkham Intelligence announced a 50,000 ARKM bounty for identifying the hacker.
✔ Bitget deposited 40,000 ETH into Bybit’s cold wallet as a goodwill gesture.
✔ A whale transferred 20,000 ETH (worth $53 million) to Bybit’s wallet.
Was North Korea Behind the Attack?
Blockchain analysts suspect the Lazarus Group, a notorious North Korean hacking organization, was responsible for the Bybit hack.
📌 Key Evidence:
✔ ZachXBT uncovered links between the Bybit hack and the $70M Phemex hack in January.
✔ The hacker began laundering stolen ETH using the eXch mixer and bridged funds to Bitcoin via Chainflip.
✔ Chainflip responded, stating that while they took preventive measures, their decentralized nature limits their ability to block transactions.
Bybit CEO Ben Zhou has urged Chainflip and other platforms to help prevent further asset movements. Investigations are ongoing.
Final Thoughts: What’s Next for Bybit?
Bybit’s swift recovery and strong industry backing highlight its resilience. However, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the security risks in crypto trading.
🔹 What Users Should Do Now:
✔ Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for extra security.
✔ Use hardware wallets for long-term storage.
✔ Stay updated on Bybit’s upcoming security enhancements.
📢 Follow us for more updates as Bybit releases its full incident report.
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