A prominent cryptocurrency exchange, Grinex, has halted all operations after falling victim to a sophisticated cyber attack that resulted in the theft of approximately $13 million. The exchange, which operates out of Kyrgyzstan, reported the breach on its official Telegram channel and website, suggesting that the attack was likely orchestrated by state-backed entities from hostile nations. According to Grinex, the nature and scope of the attack imply a high level of technical expertise and resources, typically available only to state-sponsored actors. The exchange had previously been sanctioned by the US, UK, and EU for its alleged role in helping users circumvent restrictions through a ruble-backed stablecoin.
As a result of the hack, users are currently unable to access their funds, and the company's Moscow office has been closed while the incident is under investigation. A list of 54 affected wallet addresses and the corresponding losses has been published by Grinex, with the majority of the stolen funds being in the form of USDT on the TRON blockchain.