The Heist That Shook the Crypto World
In a plot twist worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, hackers pulled off a jaw-dropping heist, draining over $450 million from FTX and FTX.US just moments after the exchange filed for bankruptcy on November 11. Talk about timing!
Sneaky Moves and Crypto Mixers
Enter the charmingly dubious world of crypto mixers! According to crypto whiz ZachXBT, these tech-savvy bandits transferred a chunk of their spoils to OKX, utilizing a Bitcoin mixer known as ChipMixer. So far, reports indicate at least 225 BTC, valued at $4.1 million, has made its way to OKX. It’s as if they’re playing a game of financial hide-and-seek while laughing all the way to the bank.
Addressing the Mysterious Pattern
Digging deeper, ZachXBT observed a striking pattern in the hackers’ behavior. After depositing their loot into ChipMixer, the addresses receiving funds all seemed to follow a pre-defined dance routine: a “withdrawal from CM,” followed by a “50% peels off,” and finally a “50% deposited to OKX.” If only their finesse matched their criminal skills!
OKX Steps Up to the Plate
As the drama unfolded, the director of OKX, taking a break from the usual crypto banter, acknowledged the situation on Twitter, assuring users that they were aware of the predicament and were investigating the wallet flow. A relief for many, but one can imagine the nervousness behind those corporate tweeter fingers.
What Is Going On with FTX?
This incident wasn’t just a standard cyber heist; it was a puzzle that sent ripples throughout the crypto community. Following the initial hack, Cointelegraph reported that of the $663 million drained, approximately $477 million was believed to be stolen, while the remainder was deemed secure within FTX’s vaults. On November 20, the hacker switched gears, transferring their Ether (ETH) holding to another wallet, amassing a position as one of the largest ETH holders before tumbling down the ranks by offloading $50,000 ETH. That’s some serious crypto housecleaning!
Speculations of an Inside Job
What caught everyone’s attention was the simultaneous drainage of assets from both FTX global and FTX.US, independent entities in their own right. Could it be that there’s more to this story than meets the eye? The crypto-enthusiasts quickly shifted their suspicions, raising eyebrows and generating theories that perhaps this caper had an insider helping hand.
