Change Of Heart? Hacker Returns $21M Stolen Bitcoin To South Korean Prosecutors
A hacker has returned 320.8 Bitcoin (BTC), worth $21 million, to South Korean prosecutors after stealing it in a phishing attack in August. The funds were originally seized during a 2021 illegal gambling investigation and were lost when investigators mistakenly accessed a phishing site. Authorities believe pressure from blocking transactions and requesting cooperation from exchanges led to the return. Despite the recovery, the Gwangju District Prosecutors’ Office pledged to continue investigating to apprehend the perpetrators.
This incident, along with another loss of 22 BTC at a Seoul police station, has raised concerns about South Korea’s custody of virtual assets. The country is preparing for the Second Phase of the Virtual Asset User Protection Act to address such vulnerabilities. Recent issues, including a "ghost Bitcoin" error at Bithumb that distributed non-existent assets, have prompted financial authorities to inspect exchanges and consider stronger prosecution measures for crypto crimes.
bitcoinist02/20 15:01