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Atomic Wallet Hacker Uses Lazarus Crypto Mixer

Web3 & Enterprise·June 07, 2023, 12:27 AM

The stolen cryptocurrency from the recent $35 million hack of Atomic Wallet is already being moved to a crypto mixer favored by North Korea’s notorious cyber-hacking group.

Photo by Micha Brändli on Unsplash

 

Sinbad.io

According to UK-based crypto compliance analysis firm Elliptic, the funds have made their way to a crypto mixer used by Lazarus Group, a notorious hacker group that focuses on crypto heists which is believed to have direct ties with the North Korean government.

On June 5, Elliptic’s Investigations Team revealed that it had traced the funds from the Atomic Wallet hack to the crypto mixer Sinbad.io. Lazarus had previously used the mixer to launder over $100 million in stolen crypto assets.

While the exact amount sent to the mixer was not specified, Elliptic noted that the stolen funds were being exchanged for Bitcoin before undergoing obfuscation through the mixer. Additionally, Elliptic reported that Sinbad.io is likely a rebranded version of Blender.io, another mixer extensively used to launder funds by the Lazarus Group. Blender.io has been sanctioned by the US Treasury.

 

Atomic Wallet hack

The hack of several user accounts on Atomic Wallet occurred on June 3, resulting in losses of up to $35 million. News of the issue broke with the following tweet from the project team (which has subsequently been deleted): “We have received reports of wallets being compromised. We are doing all we can to investigate and analyze the situation. As we have more information, we will share it accordingly.”

In a follow-up tweet the next day, the team confirmed that it was investigating the matter with the assistance of a number of “leading security companies.”

However, Atomic Wallet later downplayed the incident, stating that less than 1% of its monthly active users were affected. The project team was castigated by users for trying to present the hack as a minor incident. One user took to Twitter to call out the Atomic Wallet team for “having the nerve to come to the networks and say that only 1% of wallets were affected.”

The Atomic Wallet project is based out of Tallinn, Estonia, having been founded in 2017. It claims to provide a non-custodial decentralized multi-currency crypto wallet. The product supports over fifty coins and two hundred tokens. It also offers atomic swaps between digital assets, while also supporting integrations with instant exchanges such as Changelly, ShapeShift, and others.

Roland Säde, the Chief Marketing Officer of Atomic Wallet, assured users that the team is working tirelessly to recover the stolen funds. He emphasized the need to complete the investigation to develop a concrete plan.

Despite the ongoing efforts, Säde urged victims to track the illicit transfers and report them to popular crypto exchanges. By doing so, it was thought that may hinder the scammers from exchanging the funds.

 

Crypto hacking menace

Lazarus Group hackers have been the bane of the crypto space in recent years. Elliptic released a report last month that identified Japan as having been the country most adversely affected by the North Korean hackers. It’s understood that the estimated $721 million in stolen crypto from Japan-based entities amounts to nearly nine times the value of North Korea’s exports based on 2021 data.

While Atomic Wallet is directly reporting the incidents, Säde believes that having more individuals monitoring the hackers’ activities will make it more challenging for them to move the funds undetected. Unfortunately, Elliptic’s recent findings suggest that for many victims, it may already be too late to prevent further misuse of their stolen cryptocurrency.

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Web3 & Enterprise·

Jun 21, 2023

Academia, Industry Collaborate on Crypto Accounting Research in Korea

Academia, Industry Collaborate on Crypto Accounting Research in KoreaThe Korean Accounting Association (KAA) and Samil PwC, the South Korean member firm of global accounting company PwC, have joined forces to conduct collaborative research on accounting for cryptocurrency assets, according to a report by local news outlet Maeil Business Newspaper.Photo by Pixabay on PexelsCollaborative effortsUnder this newly formed partnership, the KAA’s crypto asset committee will work closely with Samil PwC to explore a wide range of crypto assets, facilitate the development of financial statements pertaining to these assets for businesses, and implement accounting policies that align with the characteristics of cryptocurrencies.Leading the crypto asset committee is Roh Hee-chun from Soongsil University, while Partner Lee Jae-hyeok from Samil PwC will participate in the study. Until 2028, this collaboration is poised to yield insights and findings on crypto asset accounting.First seminarThe committee is set to hold its first seminar on June 27, serving as a platform for knowledge exchange and fostering deeper understanding among industry professionals. Furthermore, the accountants involved anticipate publishing a paper in an academic journal next year.PwC’s Assurance Leader Oh Kee-won emphasized the accounting firm’s commitment to leveraging its extensive resources in order to produce outcomes that positively impact society.Meanwhile, KAA President-elect Kim Gap-soon highlighted the relative novelty of crypto asset accounting, acknowledging that there is much ground to be covered. The association aims to establish a solid foundation that offers optimal guidance in the field of crypto asset accounting.

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Web3 & Enterprise·

Nov 25, 2023

BingX embarks on rebrand to further service offering

BingX embarks on rebrand to further service offeringBingX, the Singapore-headquartered cryptocurrency exchange platform, has taken the decision to rebrand the business.Improving the trading experienceThe platform, originally known for its role in guiding newcomers into the crypto space through copy trading, claims that the move is designed to elevate the trading experience for users by prioritizing simplicity, efficiency and security.This transformation includes a substantial overhaul of BingX’s visual identity, highlighted by a streamlined logo that caters to the practical needs of traders. The changes extend to the platform’s color palette and typography on digital platforms, all aimed at making the trading process more intuitive and user-friendly.Photo by Patrik Michalicka on UnsplashBroadening market appealWhile initially recognized for its focus on crypto beginners, BingX is now broadening its horizons. The platform introduces advanced features catering to a diverse range of crypto enthusiasts, from novices to seasoned traders. This expansion underscores BingX’s adaptive approach to the dynamic cryptocurrency market, addressing the evolving needs of its user base.Megan Nyvold, Head of Branding at BingX, outlined that the rebranding aligns with the company’s enduring vision of democratizing crypto trading globally, emphasizing diversity and creating professional, user-centric trading environments.From ‘Trading Made Easy‘ to ‘Empowering Traders’In tandem with the visual changes, BingX has also unveiled a new tagline, transitioning from “Trading Made Easy” to “Empowering Traders.” This shift emphasizes the company’s commitment to supporting traders at all levels, ensuring access to reliable and transparent services.In a blog post published by the company on Thursday, Nyvold stated:”Over the past five years, BingX’s vision to build a gateway for the next billion crypto users has been unwavering. As part of this evolution, we have refined our core values with a renewed emphasis on promoting diversity. As we introduce our refreshed brand identity, we reaffirm our assurance of empowering our users, focusing on a more professional and user-centric trading environment that aligns with our vision for collective success.”This latest move is one of a number of ongoing efforts BingX has made this year to further develop the business. In July, the company introduced AstraBit to the platform, an automated algorithmic trading and portfolio management tool, to enhance and automate the crypto trading experience for its platform users.The following month, it introduced a Multiple Deposit Addresses feature to enable greater flexibility and convenience for service users. September brought a collaboration with WunderTrading, adding the use of its automated trading bots to BingX platform users. Earlier this year, the company had integrated crypto portfolio tracker CoinTracking with the platform, in an effort to allow service users to generate reports for tax purposes with ease.BingX was founded in Singapore in 2018 by Josh Lu. The platform claims to have five million service users.

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Web3 & Enterprise·

Sep 14, 2023

BitMEX Returns to Derivatives Arena with Prediction Market

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