Bitcoin hacker returns most of $340m stolen in crypto heist

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... A hacker who stole thousands of bitcoins worth about $340 million from the Liquid Network has returned most of the funds after the vulnerability used in the theft was fixed. The incident is one of the largest known cryptocurrency thefts of the year and ranks among the biggest digital asset heists on record. Liquid Network, a settlement network launched by crypto firm Blockstream in 2018 and used by several cryptocurrency exchanges, said on Sunday that a 'white hat' hacker had taken the funds from its wallet. The network subsequently paused operations while it works to resolve the incident and strengthen its security. The identity of the hacker remains unknown, but reports from crypto media indicate that the attacker allegedly exploited a bug to withdraw the bitcoin. The hacker reportedly said the stolen funds would be returned if Blockstream fixed the vulnerability. Former Blockstream executive Samson Mow said on Monday that the company had fixed the bug and that about 3,400 of the roughly 4,000 stolen bitcoins had been returned. The remaining approximately 600 bitcoins, worth about $47 million, were still under the hacker's control. Mow said Liquid Network operations would remain suspended until additional fixes and security improvements are implemented before the platform resumes. The theft is listed among the largest cryptocurrency heists tracked by Rekt, a platform that monitors major crypto exploits and losses. Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn. Follow us: X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073 Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3 LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5 Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.loud storage YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra. Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652. #AsaaseRadio #AsaasePa #TheVoiceofOurLand