Lykke cryptocurrency exchange has recently acknowledged a security breach after temporarily halting withdrawals on June 4, as revealed in a social media announcement on June 10. The exchange reassured users that their funds are secure and will be restored. Both Lykke UK and Lykke Corp AG were impacted by the attack, prompting the suspension of withdrawals as a precautionary measure.
Blockchain security researcher SomaXBT disclosed the exploit on June 9, accusing the exchange team of concealing the breach. The exchange reportedly lost approximately $19.5 million worth of crypto assets. Despite the team’s attempt to downplay the incident as “unscheduled system maintenance,” users voiced concerns, with one alleging rumors of a hack on June 8.
In their acknowledgment of the breach on June 10, the Lykke team extended apologies to affected users, emphasizing their commitment to the safety of client funds. They announced plans to initiate a criminal investigation, having identified the IP addresses of the attacker, and enlisted a cybersecurity team to recover the stolen assets. Estimates suggest that over $22 million was compromised in the attack, underscoring the ongoing threat to centralized exchanges and the need for robust security measures.