Grinex, a cryptocurrency platform popular among Russians seeking to circumvent sanctions, has halted operations after falling victim to a cyber attack that resulted in the theft of approximately 1 billion rubles, equivalent to $13 million. The breach was disclosed by the exchange via its Telegram channel and an official statement on its website, suggesting that the attack was likely orchestrated by state-sponsored entities from hostile nations.
According to Grinex, the sophisticated nature of the attack and the resources employed indicate an unprecedented level of technological capability, typically reserved for state-affiliated structures. The exchange, which was previously sanctioned by the US, UK, and EU for its role in enabling users to bypass restrictions through a ruble-backed stablecoin called A7A5, has temporarily suspended trading activities while it conducts an investigation. As a result, users are currently unable to access their funds, and the company's Moscow office has been closed off. A list of 54 affected wallet addresses, primarily containing USDT on the TRON blockchain, has been published by Grinex, detailing the amounts stolen from each.