$BTC DOJ Launches Criminal Probe Into Coinbase Breach Involving Bribed Employees
The U.S. Justice Department has reportedly initiated a criminal probe into a security incident at Coinbase Global Inc., the nation’s premier cryptocurrency exchange, as disclosed by a Bloomberg source with knowledge of the situation.
Intruders corrupted customer support staff and third-party contractors in India, gaining illicit access to sensitive user information. Following the breach, the perpetrators issued a $20 million extortion threat, vowing to conceal the compromised data.
On May 11, Coinbase publicly acknowledged the event, revealing it had received the anonymous ransom demand via email. Paul Grewal, the company’s Chief Legal Officer, affirmed full collaboration with the Justice Department and international authorities. Though the DOJ remained silent, Coinbase expressed support for potential legal action against the culprits.
