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Qadir AK
Qadir AK
Author
Qadir Ak is the founder of Coinpedia. He has over a decade of experience writing about technology and has been covering the blockchain and cryptocurrency space since 2010. He has also interviewed a few prominent experts within the cryptocurrency space.
- Feb 24, 2025 07:00 UTC
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Bybit Claims 100% Recovery of $1.46B Crypto Hack in Just Two Days – But Here’s the Truth
Bybit suffered a $1.46 billion Ethereum theft via a phishing attack on its cold wallet.
CEO Ben Zhou led a rapid, two-day recovery effort involving emergency loans and asset purchases.
Despite recovery, questions remain about the full financial impact of the loans, and Bybit will conduct an audit to restore confidence.
In what is now the biggest crypto theft in history, Bybit, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, was hacked for over $1.46 billion. The attack targeted Bybit’s Ethereum multi-signature cold wallet, a crucial storage used for daily trading operations.
According to blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain, hackers exploited a phishing vulnerability, manipulating the signing process to drain $1.23 billion worth of ETH.
But what’s shocking isn’t just the scale of the theft – it’s how quickly Bybit bounced back.
How did Bybit pull off this near-impossible recovery? Who helped, and what does it mean for the crypto market? Let’s break it down.
How Bybit Recovered the Stolen Funds
Despite the major setback, Bybit’s CEO Ben Zhou led a rapid recovery. The exchange acted immediately, securing emergency loans, using investor deposits, and purchasing ETH to cover the losses. In just two days, Bybit fully replenished its holdings, showing its commitment to protecting users.
Zhou assured users in a post on X that their funds remained safe and highlighted Bybit’s financial strength.
Leading crypto firms, including Binance, Bitget, MEXC, Mirana Ventures, Fenbushi Capital, and MMDWF Labs, stepped in to support Bybit. Their efforts helped stabilize liquidity and restore investor confidence. To ensure transparency, Zhou confirmed that Bybit would soon release a Proof of Reserves (PoR) audit.
Where the Recovery Funds Came From
Bybit replenished the lost ETH using multiple sources:
- Private deals: 157,660 ETH ($437.8 million)
- Crypto exchanges: 109,033 ETH ($304.1 million)
- Institutional investors & lenders: 47,800 ETH ($127.5 million)
- Bitget loan: 40,000 ETH ($106 million)
- Smaller private deals: 22,609 ETH ($61.8 million)
- Other investors: Contributions between 2,200 ETH ($6 million) and 20,000 ETH ($53.7 million)
This combined effort helped Bybit replace the stolen funds in record time.
While many praised Bybit’s quick response – some even comparing it to how Bitfinex handled its hack – not everyone was convinced. Crypto analyst Hermes Psychopomp questioned Bybit’s claim of fully recovering its losses, pointing out that the exchange used loans and still has debts to repay. He criticized the crypto industry for often making things sound better than they are.
Crypto Market Analysis
Bybit’s fund recovery reduced artificial demand for ETH, causing its price to drop from $2,800 to around $2,700. Meanwhile, the exchange is actively tracking the stolen funds, which are suspected to be in the hands of North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Blockchain analysts warn that the hackers may use Bitcoin mixers to hide the stolen assets.
Bybit’s upcoming audit will play a key role in rebuilding investor trust and proving the exchange remains financially stable. The crypto community has largely praised Bybit’s quick response, which helped prevent a liquidity crisis and kept the platform running.
Bybit may have patched the wound, but the scars of the biggest crypto heist in history will linger for a long time.
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