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Brazil's Mercado Bitcoin halts withdrawals after reported $46M breach
The Block said Mercado Bitcoin confirmed a security incident, paused deposits and withdrawals, and that Arkham put assets involved near $46 million; Tether froze more than 4.5 million USDT.
The Block reported Monday that Mercado Bitcoin, which it described as Brazil's largest cryptocurrency exchange, confirmed a security incident and paused deposits and withdrawals1.
The Block cited Arkham data for approximately $46.3 million in assets involved1. Techmeme's summary of the same report put the Arkham figure at $46.4 million.
The Block quoted the exchange as saying it had identified and contained a security incident in one of its systems early Monday1.
The Block said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino confirmed the stablecoin issuer froze more than 4.5 million USDT linked to the incident1.
The Block, citing Arkham analyst Emmett Gallic, said the attacker was sweeping funds from older deposit addresses and selling memecoins and other altcoins1.
How much the exchange itself says was taken, whether customers will be made whole, and when deposits and withdrawals resume were not settled in those accounts1.
