Bybit Faces Historic $1.4 Billion Hack, Shaking the Crypto Market

On February 21, 2025, Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange, suffered an unprecedented hack, losing approximately $1.46 billion worth of Ethereum (ETH) from its cold wallet.

Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic confirmed this as the largest crypto theft ever recorded, surpassing the $611 million Poly Network hack of 2021. The incident has sent shockwaves through the cryptocurrency industry, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in digital asset security.

The attack exploited a flaw in Bybit’s multi-signature cold wallet system, typically considered one of the safest storage methods due to its offline nature.

Hackers manipulated transaction signing processes using advanced techniques, including malicious smart contracts and social engineering. This allowed them to gain unauthorized access and drain 401,347 ETH into unidentified wallets.

Blockchain investigators have attributed the attack to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored hacking collective linked to over $6 billion in stolen crypto assets since 2017.

The market reacted swiftly to the news. Ethereum’s price dropped by over 4% within an hour, while Bitcoin (BTC) and other major cryptocurrencies also saw declines.

Crypto Market Volatility

Bitcoin plunged to $93,800 before recuperating to $95,000 on February 24, reflecting a slight daily loss of 1%, while Ethereum stood at $2,688 after a 3.76% drop. The broader crypto market lost $200 billion in value over the weekend as investor anxiety grew.

Bybit quickly responded to mitigate the fallout. The exchange secured bridge loans covering 80% of the stolen funds and assured users that withdrawals would remain operational.

It also launched a bounty program offering up to $140 million for information leading to fund recovery. Despite these efforts, concerns over security in centralized exchanges have intensified.

This breach underscores ongoing challenges in regulating and safeguarding digital assets. While Bybit’s rapid response helped maintain operational stability, the incident has reignited calls for stricter cybersecurity protocols and regulatory oversight in the crypto space.

Analysts warn that restoring investor confidence could take time as fears over exchange vulnerabilities persist. The hack also coincides with rising institutional interest in cryptocurrencies and regulatory developments in the U.S.

These include pending ETF approvals and Federal Reserve inflation data releases. These factors add complexity to an already volatile market environment, leaving investors cautious but hopeful for stronger safeguards in the future.

LatAm Markets: Live Signals → — real-time movers, turnover leaders and FX across Latin America.