Hack history / 2016 / Hack or exploit
Bitfinex
Hack or exploit on Aug 2, 2016 · Hot Wallet Key Compromised
IN REVIEWSOURCES DISAGREE ON DATE OR LOSS · 2 SOURCES
Lost
$72M
sources: $72M to $900M
Returned
none listed
as the sources state it
Rank
#80
among thefts by dollars lost
What happened
Bitfinex suffered a security breach when an attacker compromised hot wallet private keys, stealing 119,756 bitcoins (~$72 million). The exchange halted trading and withdrawals while investigating.
In review: sources disagree on the loss.
Details
- Date
- Aug 2, 2016
- Kind
- Hack or exploit
- Method
- Hot Wallet Key Compromised
- How in
- Keys, accounts and infrastructure
- Target
- Centralized exchange
- Chains
- Bitcoin
After the theft
- Recovered or seized
- yes, amount not stated
“In February 2022, the Department of Justice recovered 94,000 bitcoins for Bitfinex, then valued at $3.6 billion.” (SlowMist Hacked)
Reported by
Related incidents
Cite this page
SwanBluechip, "Bitfinex hack, Aug 2, 2016: $72M lost", Crypto hack history, https://swan-hack-tracker.pages.dev/history/i/htaa2087e996/ (data as of 2026-10-31).