The US Department of Justice is investigating the theft of around $400 million from the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange Cryptocurrency Exchange A cryptocurrency exchange is an online platform that supports the exchange of various currencies for a cryptocurrency or digital asset.Comparable to a generalized financial exchange, a crypto exchange’s core function is to permit and encourage the buying and selling of cryptos.This is accomplished by producing a stable trading environment suitable for traders nested through different locations around the world. Sometimes a crypto exchange may be referred to as a digital currency exchange (DCE) f A cryptocurrency exchange is an online platform that supports the exchange of various currencies for a cryptocurrency or digital asset.Comparable to a generalized financial exchange, a crypto exchange’s core function is to permit and encourage the buying and selling of cryptos.This is accomplished by producing a stable trading environment suitable for traders nested through different locations around the world. Sometimes a crypto exchange may be referred to as a digital currency exchange (DCE) f Read this Term, FTX. The hacking incident happened a day after the crypto exchange and its subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy Bankruptcy Bankruptcy or insolvency constitutes a legal term and refers to being unable to repay debts. A business and a person can declare bankruptcy. When a person or company claims bankruptcy, it is described as a voluntary bankruptcy, and when your debtors force you into bankruptcy, it is referred to as involuntary. A voluntary bankruptcy occurs when the debtor or borrower, the party that owes the money files with the courts. Involuntary bankruptcy happens when your credits file a petition with the co Bankruptcy or insolvency constitutes a legal term and refers to being unable to repay debts. A business and a person can declare bankruptcy. When a person or company claims bankruptcy, it is described as a voluntary bankruptcy, and when your debtors force you into bankruptcy, it is referred to as involuntary. A voluntary bankruptcy occurs when the debtor or borrower, the party that owes the money files with the courts. Involuntary bankruptcy happens when your credits file a petition with the co Read this Term.

US Justice Department Probing FTX Hack

The prosecutors have not filed any charges yet, so there is no official confirmation of the investigation. However, Bloomberg reported on the matter citing anonymous sources.

The criminal investigation is separate from the array of fraud charges the FTX Founder and former CEO, Sam Bankman-Fried, is facing for his alleged misdeeds with the operations of the doomed crypto exchange. Bankman-Fried’s two top executives, Caroline Ellison and Zixiao (Gary) Wang, also faced criminal charges and have pled guilty.

In addition, the United States markets regulator, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) brought civil charges against all three company executives.

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Justice Department Working to Clarify FTX Hack

Company employees noticed massive outflows from the crypto wallets controlled by the company and its US subsidiary between November 11 and the early hours of November 12. Over an hour after the suspected hack, FTX’s General Counsel Ryne Miller tweeted on the initiation of investigation on the “abnormalities with wallet movements.”

Multiple former FTX employees confirmed to me they do not recognize these transfers for ~$383m https://t.co/YcqT0jrqIQ

— ZachXBT (@zachxbt) November 12, 2022

Though the official Twitter handle of FTX has not confirmed anything, the official company support channel on Telegram pinned a message, stating: “FTX has been hacked. FTX apps are malware. Delete them. Chat is open. Don’t go on FTX site as it might download Trojans.”

FTX’s CEO, John Jay Ray III, who took over after Bankman-Fried stepped down, confirmed the hack through a statement issued via the General Counsel’s Twitter handle.

2/ Among other things, we are in the process of removing trading and withdrawal functionality and moving as many digital assets as can be identified to a new cold wallet custodian. As widely reported, unauthorized access to certain assets has occurred.

— Ryne Miller (@_Ryne_Miller) November 12, 2022

According to blockchain experts, at least $372 million in customer funds were siphoned from the two FTX platforms. Though CEO Ray III confirmed that the incident was reported to law enforcement, many experts suspect that the incident might be an inside job.

Meanwhile, Bankman-Fried has been extradited to the United States after his arrest in the Bahamas. He is now out on a $250 million bail bond, a legal option that has been questioned by many.