Coldcard Hack Losses Reach $130M as Bitcoin Theft Expands

iconCoincryptonewz
Share
AI summary iconSummary
A recent crypto hack targeting Coldcard wallets has pushed losses to an estimated $130 million, with 1,596 BTC confirmed stolen across three major attacks and 14 smaller breaches. Galaxy Research warns a fourth wave could raise the total. Coinkite released emergency firmware updates and urged users to transfer funds to secure storage. The flaw impacted seed generation in specific Coldcard versions, and 90% of the stolen Bitcoin remains untouched. The incident highlights the risks of exchange hack vulnerabilities in hardware wallet systems.
  • Galaxy Research tracks 1,596 BTC stolen from Coldcard wallets.
  • Suspected fourth wave could raise losses toward $130 million.
  • Affected users urged to migrate funds to secure wallets.

The Coldcard hack investigation has expanded after Galaxy Research estimated potential losses could reach 2,000 BTC, worth about $130 million. The research firm confirmed 1,596 BTC stolen from 7,300 addresses across three attack waves and 14 smaller incidents. A suspected fourth wave could increase the total if victims confirm that their wallets are affected.

Coldcard Hack Investigation Tracks Multiple Attack Waves

Galaxy Research stated that the Coldcard hack remains active as investigators analyse blockchain activity linked to the wallet vulnerability. The firm identified confirmed thefts from affected addresses while working with exchanges, law enforcement agencies, and cybersecurity groups.

The research firm said it has medium-high confidence that the suspected fourth attack wave involves a similar attacker pattern. However, Galaxy noted that it still requires direct victim confirmation before including those losses in the official count.

The vulnerability affected seeds created on certain Coldcard firmware versions. Coinkite previously confirmed issues involving Mk3, Mk4, Mk5, and Coldcard Q devices. The company released emergency firmware updates and advised users to migrate funds.

Bitcoin Losses Linked To Coldcard Wallet Vulnerability

The Coldcard hack resulted from a seed-generation issue that weakened wallet randomness. Coinkite said affected firmware versions used a deterministic generator instead of the intended hardware-based random source during seed creation.

Galaxy reported that around 90% of stolen Bitcoin remains unmoved. None of the BTC from the first three confirmed attack waves has moved, allowing investigators more time to monitor related addresses.

Meanwhile, Coinkite recommended users create new seeds on updated devices and transfer funds carefully. The company warned that updating firmware alone does not protect wallets created with vulnerable seeds.

Affected users should generate replacement wallets, verify receiving addresses, and complete small test transactions before moving remaining balances. The company also destroyed vulnerable inventory and released patched firmware versions across supported devices.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoinCryptoNewz is not responsible for any losses incurred. Readers should do their own research before making financial decisions.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may have been obtained from third parties and does not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of KuCoin. This content is provided for general informational purposes only, without any representation or warranty of any kind, nor shall it be construed as financial or investment advice. KuCoin shall not be liable for any errors or omissions, or for any outcomes resulting from the use of this information. Investments in digital assets can be risky. Please carefully evaluate the risks of a product and your risk tolerance based on your own financial circumstances. For more information, please refer to our Terms of Use and Risk Disclosure.