Binance estimates $6.3 billion impact, reports about $3 billion frozen
Official update dated 30 October reports suspended deposits and withdrawals and a commitment to cover losses. Findings about how the breach occurred remain preliminary.
Updated 30.10.2026 · 06:06, Athens time — What changed
In its latest official notice dated 30 October 2026, Binance estimates the security incident's total impact at around $6.3 billion and reports about $3 billion frozen on-chain. The latter updates the earlier $2.54 billion figure; the two totals should not be added together. The impact estimate is not a final, independently audited tally.
The company reports a temporary suspension of deposits and withdrawals while security checks are completed. It commits to covering all losses from the SAFU fund and company funds. This is a company undertaking; the notice does not establish that compensation to users has already been completed.
Preliminary account of how access was gained
According to Binance, its initial investigation suggests a compromised DevOps engineer's laptop may have allowed an attacker to access a service and submit unauthorised withdrawal transactions. The company says it has found no evidence of wallet private key leakage. This is its finding so far, rather than a completed technical assessment.
Binance says it revoked the affected address authorisation and is working with law enforcement and blockchain intelligence partners. It promises a technical report after the investigation and an updated Proof of Reserves once remediation is complete. This notice does not identify the perpetrators or announce a service resumption time. Its advice to use official update channels remains.
Previous updates — history
Binance announced on 29 October 2026 that a total of $2.54 billion in assets had been frozen as it investigates a security incident. Its original post describes this as the verified frozen total reported by the company. It says the figure may rise as work continues with law enforcement, issuers, blockchain intelligence firms and industry partners.
A spokesperson for the exchange told TechCrunch that withdrawals across multiple networks had been temporarily suspended as a precaution. Binance says it is urgently investigating and maintains that user funds are safe. That assurance is the company's statement, rather than an independent audit of its accounts.
What the other companies confirm
Tether chief Paolo Ardoino said in his original post that more than 1.567 billion USDT had been frozen in connection with the potential breach. Circle chief Jeremy Allaire reported more than 800 million USDC frozen in coordination with law enforcement. These are individual company announcements; the amounts should not be added again to Binance's reported aggregate.
Frozen funds are not a final tally of theft
The total value of any assets stolen and who was responsible have not been confirmed. Founder Changpeng Zhao said the incident appeared to be a hack, while noting that he no longer manages Binance. His assessment is not a technical finding. The original statements reviewed do not establish North Korean responsibility for this incident.
Binance urges users to avoid unofficial links, messages and requests for account information. Further investigation updates and the actual availability of withdrawals need to be checked through its official channels.
English translation of the Greek edition · Read in Greek