A New Zealand-based crypto-currency trading company went offline after it was hacked at the weekend.
Cryptopia, based in Christchurch, announced on Twitter that on January 14, it suffered a security breach that resulted in significant losses. “Once identified, the exchange was put into maintenance while we assessed damages,” it added.
The exchange has not disclosed the value of the losses, the tokens and currencies affected or any measures to refund users.
But Whale Alert, which tracks large crypto transactions, reported that 19,391 ether (ETH) tokens worth nearly $2.44 million, and around 48 million centrality (CENNZ) tokens worth about $1.18 million were transferred from Cryptopia to unknown wallets on Saturday.
A notice on the now defunct exchange’s website says, “Cryptopia is currently in unscheduled maintenance mode. We will be back soon.”
The New Zealand police and the High-Tech Crimes Unit are “jointly and actively investigating the matter as a major crime and they are assisting us with advice,” Cryptopia tweeted.
The Cryptopia crypto currency exchange will remain in maintenance mode, with trading suspended, while the investigation is carried out.
A special investigation team, including subject experts, is being formed in Christchurch.
Police are also liaising with relevant partner agencies in New Zealand and overseas.
