Bybit CEO Denies Crypto Hack And Insolvency Rumors

As an experienced financial analyst, I closely follow the crypto market and its related news. This week’s rumors of a potential insolvency issue at a crypto exchange raised concerns among investors and users alike. The name that came up in these discussions was Bybit.


This week, there have been rumors circulating on the internet suggesting that a cryptocurrency exchange is encountering financial instability, causing concern among the community. Among the exchanges mentioned in these rumors, Bybit has been singled out.

On Wednesday, I, as an observer, dispelled the rumors circulating about Bybit being hacked or experiencing financial instability on exchange X. The CEO, Ben Zhou, spoke up to reassure investors that the platform was functioning smoothly under normal circumstances.

Bybit’s CEO Dispels The Rumors

As a crypto investor, I received troubling news on Tuesday when rumors of a potential crypto exchange insolvency began circulating in private chats. These whispers instilled fear of another FTX-like debacle, which could have significant repercussions for the entire market. The initial spark for these concerns came from Arkham Intelligence’s Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) graph, which suddenly plummeted from displaying over $11 billion to just $6 billion in assets.

Bybit CEO Denies Crypto Hack And Insolvency Rumors

A user with an X account brought to our attention that the news in question was inaccurate due to a malfunction in Arkham’s graph. They explained that there was a particular wallet responsible for this issue, which failed to display over $4 billion worth of assets in the chart. However, upon closer inspection, all the assets were present and accounted for in each individual wallet.

As an analyst, I’ve observed that the community has responded to the recent incident with a touch of humor. Amidst the uncertainty and wait for clarification, some have used memes and references to past events, such as the FTX collapse in 2022, to lighten the mood. An X user even shared a “copypasta” post from that time, poking fun at how rumors spread within our community. The post includes the following lines: [Quotes the copypasta post]

As a researcher studying the cryptocurrency market, I’ve noticed that the prop desks, or proprietary trading desks, behave much like teenage girls when it comes to spreading rumors and gossip. I don’t wish to become an unwitting victim in a self-fulfilling prophecy triggered by their chatter.

Users in the community advised carefully investigating news before disseminating it, especially with regard to Bybit’s POR and associated details, and recommended utilizing alternative platforms for fact-checking.

On May 23rd, I wanted to address some rumors circulating about Bybit’s security and solvency. Contrary to certain speculations, there was no hacking of our exchange, and we were not insolvent as some may have implied. To provide transparency, I shared a Proof of Reserves (POR) snapshot from May 8th and even linked Nansen’s dashboard for added verification.

Bybit CEO Denies Crypto Hack And Insolvency Rumors

The dashboard displayed the exchange’s $11 billion assets. One of the charts reveals that the crypto exchange’s assets worth has remained above $10 billion this week, confirming that Bybit’s reserves did not drop.

As a researcher observing the current market situation, I notice that at this moment, Arkham’s graph appears stable. Surprisingly, Bybit’s Platform-of-Record (POR) graph aligns with Nansen’s reported $11 billion graph.

Crypto Regulators Crackdown On Bybit

Lately, Bybit has faced criticism and apprehension due to ongoing regulatory examinations. Not long ago, French regulators expressed concerns over Bybit’s activities within their jurisdiction, as the exchange was reportedly functioning without a required license.

The Financial Markets Authority (AMF) has reminded the public that a particular cryptocurrency exchange has been banned in the country since 2022. Additionally, the AMF announced its power to prevent access to the platform’s website and urged users to secure their digital assets before they become unreachable.

As a researcher, I’ve come across information where the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) identified Bybit as a “suspicious” platform in March. According to Bitcoinist, this move was part of the SFC’s ongoing campaign against unregistered financial platforms operating within its jurisdiction.

As a crypto investor, I’d rephrase it like this: The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has flagged 11 offerings from Bybit exchange as potentially risky, emphasizing that the platform itself is not licensed. The SFC advises caution for users considering investing in an unregulated exchange like Bybit.

Bybit CEO Denies Crypto Hack And Insolvency Rumors

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2024-05-24 08:12