Bitfinex, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, recently experienced a “minor” security incident resulting from a hacking attempt directed towards one of its customer support agents. This incident occurred between October 30 and November 5, as stated in a press release by Bitfinex. However, the exchange promptly reassured its customers that the impact was minimal, and no significant damage was sustained. The breach was a result of phishing, targeting a customer support agent with limited access and no senior permissions.
“At no time were customer assets on the platform at risk, nor was password information accessible,” Bitfinex clarified.
The compromised customer accounts were primarily empty or inactive, according to Bitfinex. The exchange is thoroughly investigating the incident, evaluating the compromised information, and reaching out to affected customers. It has also reported the breach to law enforcement and is working closely with investigative authorities to identify and capture the perpetrator behind the phishing attack. Bitfinex expressed confidence in its ability to secure convictions against those who attempt to compromise their operations, citing past successes in dealing with similar instances.
Bitfinex’s Commitment to Cybersecurity
Bitfinex attaches great importance to cybersecurity and continually reviews its security procedures. The exchange also emphasizes the importance of cybersecurity training for all employees, aiming to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Founded in Hong Kong in 2012, Bitfinex has become a significant player in the cryptocurrency industry. Led by CEO Jean-Louis van der Velde since 2013, the exchange ranks 17th in CoinGecko’s “Trust Score” index among all cryptocurrency exchanges. In the past month, Bitfinex has recorded over 800,000 visits to its platform, highlighting its popularity and influence in the market.
Rising Concerns: Hacks and Scams in the Crypto Industry
The security incident at Bitfinex comes at a time when hacks and scams continue to pose challenges to the cryptocurrency industry. The third quarter of 2023 witnessed a significant increase in reported hacks on crypto and Web3 projects and firms. According to a report by blockchain security platform Immunefi, there were 76 hacks reported during this period, compared to 30 in the same timeframe in 2022. These incidents resulted in losses of approximately $332 million, marking a record-high month for crypto exploits in September.
