Bybit Hack: $1.46 Billion Ethereum Stolen, Industry Rallies for Support
February 21, 2025
In light of the hack, Bybit's treasury fund is reportedly capable of covering losses up to 7.5 times their current deficit, providing some reassurance to users.
While the hack has caused significant turmoil, the cryptocurrency market continues to attract investment, particularly in new projects like Bitcoin Pepe, which recently raised nearly $3 million in a presale.
As Bybit works to restore confidence among its users, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the security challenges that continue to plague the cryptocurrency landscape.
In response to the incident, CEO Ben Zhou reassured clients that their funds are secure and that the company is seeking a bridge loan from partners to manage liquidity issues.
The ongoing investigation into the hack has led to speculation about potential links to state-sponsored hacking activities, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by the crypto sector.
The incident has raised broader concerns about security in the cryptocurrency market, which is already facing scrutiny due to its speculative nature and vulnerability to hacks.
Zhou explained that the hacker managed to gain access to the cold wallet and redirected all funds to an unidentified address, making the transaction appear legitimate to the signers.
Despite the chaos, Bybit has processed around 80% of withdrawal requests, demonstrating operational resilience, although some clients are still experiencing delays.
The situation has prompted major exchanges like Binance and Bitget to offer emergency liquidity support to Bybit, reflecting a collaborative effort within the industry.
As investigations continue, experts are working to identify the root cause of the breach, with some suggesting it could involve hacking of signer computers or a compromise of the Safe platform.
Bybit, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, recently suffered a significant hack, resulting in the withdrawal of over $1.46 billion in Ethereum from its hot wallets.
Summary based on 38 sources
Get a daily email with more World News stories
Sources

The New York Times • Feb 22, 2025
Big Day for Crypto Goes South After Bybit Hack
BBC News • Feb 22, 2025
Cryptocurrency theft of £1.1bn could be biggest ever
TechCrunch • Feb 21, 2025
Crypto exchange Bybit says it was hacked and lost around $1.4 billion | TechCrunch
AP News • Feb 22, 2025
Cryptocurrency exchange says it was victim of $1.5 billion hack