{
  "id": 17150587,
  "title": "Crypto platform Binance confirms major hack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/crypto-platform-binance-confirms-major-hack",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-30T00:07:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTHK News - Finance",
    "slug": "rthk-news-finance",
    "url": "https://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1875894-20261030.htm"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Cryptocurrency giant Binance disclosed on Thursday that it had been struck by a significant cyberattack, resulting in the suspension of trading for certain products. The company, which holds the title of the world's largest crypto exchange by daily trading volumes, revealed that over US$2.5 billion had been frozen to deter theft. Binance assured its users that their funds remained secure. Industry experts speculate that a substantial amount of assets may have been stolen, likening it to a massive hack. Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao, now a majority shareholder, confirmed the hacking incident. Additionally, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino reported that his company had frozen approximately US$1.6 billion in connection with the potential hack. Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire disclosed that his firm had frozen over US$800 million worth of USDC. Both USDT (Tether) and USDC (Circle's stablecoin) are digital currencies pegged to the US dollar. Rumors of the attack had circulated earlier in the day, with some industry observers suggesting it could be the most extensive cyberattack in the sector, surpassing the US$1.5 billion stolen from Bybit in February 2025. The news caused Bitcoin to plummet by more than three percent.",
  "summary": "Cryptocurrency platform Binance on Thursday said it had fallen victim to a major hack that had resulted in the freezing of more than US$2.5 billion in an effort to prevent them from being stolen. The company – the world's largest crypto exchange by daily trading volumes – said it had suspended trading on certain products. It nevertheless insisted: \"User funds are completely safe.\" Several experts…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CoinDesk",
        "title": "Multi-billion Binance hack hitting crypto markets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/multi-billion-binance-hack-hitting-crypto-markets",
        "published": "2026-10-29T21:12:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Crypto giant Binance investigating security concerns amid reports of hack: 'User funds are completely safe'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/crypto-giant-binance-investigating-security-concerns-amid-reports-of",
        "published": "2026-10-29T21:44:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Slashdot",
        "title": "Multi-Billion Binance Hack Hitting Crypto Markets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/multi-billion-binance-hack-hitting-crypto-markets-17137784",
        "published": "2026-10-29T22:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Forbes",
        "title": "Binance Says User Funds Are ‘Completely Safe’ Following ‘Potential Security Issue’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/binance-says-user-funds-are-completely-safe-following-potential",
        "published": "2026-10-29T22:14:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Cointelegraph",
        "title": "Binance hack rattles crypto markets as BNB falls 7%, Bitcoin slides",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/binance-hack-rattles-crypto-markets-as-bnb-falls-7-bitcoin-slides",
        "published": "2026-10-29T23:24:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Straits Times Business",
        "title": "Suspected billion-dollar Binance hack sends fear through crypto",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/suspected-billion-dollar-binance-hack-sends-fear-through-crypto",
        "published": "2026-10-29T23:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Investing.com",
        "title": "Binance halts withdrawals amid $5.3 bln crypto hack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/binance-halts-withdrawals-amid-5-3-bln-crypto-hack",
        "published": "2026-10-29T23:35:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Axios",
        "title": "Binance probes possible $5.7 billion crypto hack, possibly the biggest in history",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/binance-probes-possible-5-7-billion-crypto-hack-possibly-the-biggest",
        "published": "2026-10-29T23:47:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "[UPDATED] Crypto platform Binance confirms major hack, more than US$2.5bil frozen",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/29/updated-crypto-platform-binance-confirms-major-hack-more-than-us-2",
        "published": "2026-10-29T23:53:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "Crypto firms freeze billions amid suspected Binance hack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/crypto-firms-freeze-billions-amid-suspected-binance-hack",
        "published": "2026-10-30T00:05:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Binance sees $5.9 billion outflow amid reports of major crypto breach",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/binance-sees-5-9-billion-outflow-amid-reports-of-major-crypto-breach",
        "published": "2026-10-30T00:18:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}