Coldcard Hardware Wallet Attack Rises to $116M, Over 5,200 Addresses Impacted

iconChaincatcher
Share
AI summary iconSummary
A replay attack on Coldcard hardware wallets has reached $116 million, with 1,816 BTC drained from over 5,200 addresses. Galaxy Research confirmed a fourth wave, moving 449 BTC. Alex Thorn called it a “fourth round of organized theft,” noting 13.8 transactions per block—45 times the normal rate. The vulnerability stems from a 2021 firmware update that shifted seed generation to a predictable model. Coinkite urged users to move their funds. A reentrancy attack may also have contributed to the theft.

ChainCatcher report: The Coldcard hardware wallet attack has expanded to approximately $1.16 billion, with attackers transferring 1,816 BTC from over 5,200 addresses. Galaxy Research confirmed a fourth wave of transfers, revising the amount moved in this wave to approximately 449 BTC. Alex Thorn, head of Galaxy Research, stated that the latest activity may represent a “fourth organized theft wave,” with transfer rates reaching 13.8 transactions per block—about 45 times the pre-incident baseline. Their analysis suggests the pattern indicates multiple groups may be simultaneously scanning the compromised key space. The root cause has been traced to a firmware update in 2021 for certain Coldcard devices, which changed the wallet seed generation process from a hardware-based random source to a predictable software-based pattern. Canadian manufacturer Coinkite advises users who generated wallet seeds on Coldcard devices to move their funds to a new, secure wallet as soon as possible.

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.