Binance, The World's Largest Cryptocurrency Exchange, Has Been Hacked

30.10.2026, 9:09
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The hack could be the largest in history.

On the night of October 30, unknown hackers breached Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, and transferred billions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency to themselves. According to the exchange itself, the losses could exceed $6 billion. If these estimates are confirmed, the hack will be the largest in history, writes RBC.

According to preliminary investigation findings, the attackers compromised the personal laptop of one of the DevOps engineers. This allowed the hackers to gain access to the service container and initiate unauthorized transactions to withdraw funds. However, the company found no evidence that private keys from wallets had been compromised.

DevOps is a popular methodology designed to optimize workflows and improve company productivity. It is based on close collaboration among developers, testers, and other IT specialists within a team.

A DevOps specialist configures servers, cloud infrastructure, and automation, and ensures the stable operation of applications.

Binance reported that its specialists are working around the clock to resolve the consequences of the incident. Once the investigation is complete, the company has promised to publish a detailed technical report, and upon completion of the recovery efforts, updated data on its reserves (Proof of Reserves).

While the audit is underway, the exchange has temporarily suspended all deposit and withdrawal operations.

Binance also announced that it has revoked the authorization for the affected address.

Users were advised to exercise caution and not to respond to suspicious links, messages, or requests for account information.

Damage Assessment

According to Binance’s own estimates, the total loss amounted to $6.3 billion.

“Working with partners in the blockchain industry, we have managed to freeze a portion of the affected assets—currently, approximately $3 billion is locked directly on the blockchain,” the company stated.

Binance founder Changpeng Zhao stated that the incident “appears to be a hack.” He noted that he no longer heads the exchange but expects the company to fully cover users’ losses.

“This is the largest hack in history,” said Aravind Srinivasan, head of over-the-counter operations at the market-making firm GSR.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk responded to the news of the hack at the largest crypto exchange, Binance, by mentioning a software vulnerability. “Every day is zero-day,” the businessman wrote.

Market Reaction

Bitcoin (BTC) plummeted amid reports of the hack of the largest crypto exchange. Over the past 24 hours, the cryptocurrency lost more than 4% of its value. The price fell below $77,000, according to trading data.

Ethereum (ETH) dropped by more than 3–4%, hitting a two-month low of $2,178.

Stablecoin operators Tether (USDT) and Circle (USDC) reported that they had quickly frozen the stolen $1.7 billion.

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