Potential Binance ‘hack’ forces crypto firms to freeze $3 billion

Binance said attackers took about $6.34 billion in digital assets from its hot wallets on 29 October 2026. As the exchange suspended withdrawals and investigated, token issuers and other crypto firms helped freeze affected assets. Binance initially put the amount frozen at roughly $3 billion; in a 3 November update, it revised the figure to about $2.85 billion, subject to reconciliation and changes in market prices. A freeze can prevent stolen tokens from moving, but does not by itself mean the funds have been recovered.

Binance’s preliminary investigation says the attackers used a fake recruitment interview and malicious software to compromise an employee’s computer, then gained access to an internal wallet signing service. The FBI has attributed the theft to North Korea’s TraderTraitor group. Binance says it has set aside enough of its own funds to cover the loss and had replenished 98% of the affected token assets by 31 October. Its investigation and an independent security review remain ongoing.