Hackers steal $5M in bitcoin currency during Bitstamp exchange attack

Attackers made off with approximately US$5 million worth of bitcoins after hacking the Bitstamp exchange over the weekend.

The attack, on Jan. 4, targeted Bitstamp’s operational wallets, the company said in a statement on Tuesday. Operational, or hot wallets, are connected to the Internet and allow customers to instantly exchange the virtual currency.

Bitstamp suspended operations on Monday to investigate the attack and at the time instructed customers to not deposit to previously issued bitcoin addresses, saying those transactions won’t be honored. On Tuesday’s statement, it further emphasized that customers should refrain from making deposits and added that law enforcement is also involved in the investigation. Bitstamp didn’t specify which law enforcement organizations are investigating, nor did the U.K. company respond to a request for comment.

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