Suspicious Activity: FTX Hacker Moves 22,500 ETH Worth $37 Million – What’s Going On?

FTX Hack Sam Bankman-Fried
Last updated:
Author
Author
Fredrik Vold
About Author

Last updated:
Why Trust Cryptonews
Cryptonews has covered the cryptocurrency industry topics since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights to our readers. Our journalists and analysts have extensive experience in market analysis and blockchain technologies. We strive to maintain high editorial standards, focusing on factual accuracy and balanced reporting across all areas - from cryptocurrencies and blockchain projects to industry events, products, and technological developments. Our ongoing presence in the industry reflects our commitment to delivering relevant information in the evolving world of digital assets. Read more about Cryptonews
Source: AdobeStock / Rafael Henrique

In a series of concerning transactions, the hacker or group of hackers believed to be behind last year’s infamous FTX hack has moved millions of dollars’ worth of stolen crypto.

In the past few days, the so-called FTX hacker has transferred 22,500 Ether (ETH), equivalent to about $37 million by today’s exchange rate, according to a post on X from the on-chain analytics firm Lookonchain.

Out of the total, 7,500 ETH, worth approximately $12.4 million, was transferred as recently as on Monday.

Notably, these moves coincide with the impending trial of FTX’s former CEO and co-founder, Sam Bankman-Fried, who faces charges of fraud and money laundering.

Bankman-Fried faces more than 100 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.

One of 2022’s largest crypto heists

The hack that victimized FTX in 2022 was one of the year’s largest crypto heists, with losses estimated to exceed $350 million.

The attacker targeted the exchange’s wallets shortly after Bankman-Fried filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and left the company.

According to a Chainalysis report from last year, the drained funds were originally converted from Ether to Bitcoin (BTC) through RenBridge, a protocol that allows for decentralized cross-chain transfers between a number of different blockchains.

Inside job?

While the identity of the hacker remains unknown, Bankman-Fried has previously suggested in an interview that an insider, potentially a “former employee” or another malicious actor, might have gained access to FTX’s crypto wallets’ private keys.

This incident led to a US Justice Department investigation, aimed at uncovering the individual or group responsible for the hack.

Bankman-Fried’s successor as CEO, John J. Ray III, has previously revealed that FTX kept the private keys for its wallets private keys unencrypted and without adequate security measures in place.

More Articles

Altcoin News
Bubblemaps Analysts Confident Libra Meme Coin Tied to Melania Creators
Ruholamin Haqshanas
Ruholamin Haqshanas
2025-02-17 07:53:18
Blockchain News
Australia’s AML Regulator Targets 13 Crypto and Remittance Firms for Compliance Shortfalls 
Shalini Nagarajan
Shalini Nagarajan
2025-02-17 07:04:30
Crypto News in numbers
editors
Authors List + 66 More
2M+
Active Monthly Users Around the World
250+
Guides and Reviews Articles
8
Years on the Market
70
International Team Authors