US government-linked address likely exploited for over $20 million in crypto

5 hours ago

A hacker whitethorn person stolen implicit $20 cardinal worthy of crypto, including stablecoins and Ethereum (ETH), from a US government-controlled wallet connected to the infamous 2016 Bitfinex hack.

The suspicious transfers occurred connected Oct. 24, raising alarms among blockchain analysts, including ZachXBT, who called the transfers “nefarious” and hinted astatine imaginable theft.

Arkham Intelligence archetypal flagged the transfers from the wallet, which had been dormant for 8 months earlier it abruptly moved $1.25 cardinal successful Tether (USDT) and $5.5 cardinal successful USD Coin (USDC) from the DeFi level Aave.

Additionally, astir $13.7 cardinal successful aUSDC — an interest-bearing token representing USDC deposited successful Aave — on with $446,000 worthy of Ethereum, was sent to a precocious created wallet.

The funds had been seized by US authorities arsenic portion of the probe into the 2016 Bitfinex hack, successful which implicit $3.6 cardinal successful integer assets were stolen. Following the seizure, the government-held wallet had received important amounts of crypto.

Further investigation revealed that astir $320,000 worthy of Ethereum was sent to assorted exchanges, portion different $80,000 was distributed crossed aggregate smaller wallets. The wallet that received these funds had been created lone days earlier the transfer, intensifying concerns astir the suspicious quality of the transactions.

As of property time, the Department of Justice has not commented connected the concern oregon provided accusation regarding the transfers. Analysts and blockchain experts are continuing to show the question of the funds arsenic the probe unfolds.

The station US government-linked code apt exploited for implicit $20 cardinal successful crypto appeared archetypal connected CryptoSlate.

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