Privacy-driven eXch halts operations after being accused of laundering funds for Lazarus Group from the $1.4B Bybit hack.
- eXch to shut down on May 1 due to money laundering allegations.
- Lazarus Group allegedly used eXch to launder $35 million.
- Bybit recovers 89% of stolen funds after the $1.4 billion hack.
The privacy-focused cryptocurrency exchange eXch will shut down on May 1 due to money laundering accusations. eXch decided to shut down because it was accused of laundering stolen funds from the $1.4 billion Bybit hack.
eXch Exchange Announces Crypto Business Closure
The eXch team, in an statement, announced “cease and retreat” from their operations because of the accusations. The team stated that the shutdown decision followed a rumoured “”transatlantic operation” which aims to shut down the platform. The investigation claims that North Korean hackers Lazarus Group used eXch to launder $35 million from the Bybit hack.
The Czech-based exchange stressed on its position as a privacy-oriented exchange which implements minimal Know-Your-Customer (KYC) requirements. It denied plans to support criminal transactions and calrified that it an experimental project rather than a profit-based business. Critics have labelled eXch as a “mixer” but the platform clarified that it was an instant exchange.
The exchange obtained the information from its contacts within the “state intelligence sector.” The team confirmed that the exchange was under investigation for crypto asset laundering activities. However, eXch reinforces its commitment to protect user privacy.
$1.4B Bybit Hack
The Bybit hack is one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history with more than $1.4 billion in stolen funds. The hackers withdrew the stolen funds but Bybit continued to serve its customers. Bybit’s CEO Ben Zhou assured the customers that the company could compensate for the losses if the stolen funds were not recovered.
Bybit had reclaimed its lost market share as of April 10 and experts estimate that 89% of stolen funds could be traceable. The exchange has initiated protocols to freeze on substantial amounts of the stolen funds with the support of bounty hunters who received over $2 million in rewards. The exchange suffered a major financial blow from the hack despite efforts to recover the stolen assets.
The eXch closure demonstrates the increased scrutiny on privacy-focused crypto platforms. eXch faced increased scrutiny from became law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies. The exchange’s management expressed displeasure over being targeted by intelligence agencies despite their compliance to transparency and privacy protection standards.