Cryptocurrency exchange Binance announced it has temporarily suspended withdrawals following a hot wallet attack that occurred overnight. Binance Co-CEO He Yi stated that withdrawals will not resume until security conditions are confirmed to be completely secure.
In a statement made via the social media platform X, He Yi stated that withdrawal transactions were suspended to ensure user security.
He Yi emphasized that transactions would not be reopened until the current security environment was ensured to be secure, and asked users for their understanding.
The decision was reportedly made after a Binance hot wallet was subjected to a cyberattack during the night.
Initial estimates suggest that up to $5.7 billion worth of crypto assets may have been stolen in the attack. However, there is no definitive, independent confirmation of this amount of loss yet.
Hot wallets are digital asset storage systems that operate via the internet and are used for transferring cryptocurrencies.
While these wallets allow for fast transaction processing, their online connections expose them to various cybersecurity risks.
Binance’s decision to suspend withdrawals is seen as a temporary measure to assess the security of its existing systems following the attack.
However, the exchange did not share a specific date or time for when withdrawal services would resume.
The statement did not provide detailed information on the current status of other transaction services.
Binance users will be able to regain access to withdrawals depending on the completion of security reviews and the exchange’s verification that its systems are secure.
*This is not investment advice.
