Shillong, September 18: CoinEx, a global cryptocurrency exchange that recently experienced a data breach orchestrated by the North Korean-sponsored Lazarus Group, has reached out to the hackers, urging them to engage in discussions and negotiations with the company.
As per IANS, in a proactive move, CoinEx has also promised a substantial bounty reward if the stolen assets are returned.
In an open letter posted on X (formerly Twitter) on September 15, CoinEx acknowledged the breach as a valuable lesson and emphasized its heightened commitment to ensuring robust asset security.
The company encouraged the hackers to communicate and negotiate actively on the blockchain or through their official email address. If the stolen assets are willingly returned, a generous bug bounty will be offered as a reward, the company said.
Additionally, CoinEx extended an invitation to the attackers to collaborate on future security enhancements.
The hack occurred on September 12, during which the attackers siphoned approximately $53 million from the platform’s hot wallets. In response, CoinEx temporarily suspended all deposits and withdrawals to facilitate ongoing investigations.
CoinEx later informed its customers that it is still in the process of calculating the exact amount stolen but indicated that preliminary estimates indicate losses of around $70 million, which is higher than the initially reported figure.
The exchange did not specify when normal services would resume but assured users that withdrawals would gradually reopen following rigorous security assessments.
