{"id":129607,"date":"2025-05-20T10:15:44","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T10:15:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/?p=129607"},"modified":"2025-05-20T10:15:44","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T10:15:44","slug":"coinbase-data-leak-could-put-users-in-physical-danger-techcrunch-founder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/?p=129607","title":{"rendered":"Coinbase data leak could put users in physical danger: TechCrunch founder"},"content":{"rendered":"

Source: Cointelegraph.com NewsA recent data breach at crypto exchange Coinbase has raised concerns about user safety after hackers gained access to sensitive information, including home addresses.
\nCoinbase, the world\u2019s third-largest cryptocurrency exchange, confirmed that less than 1% of its transacting monthly users were affected in an attack that may cost the exchange up to $400 million in reimbursement expenses, Cointelegraph reported on May 15.
\nHowever, the \u201chuman cost\u201d of this data breach may be much higher for users, according to Michael Arrington, the founder of TechCrunch and Arrington Capital.
\n\u201cVery disappointed in Coinbase right now. Using the cheapest option for customer service has its price,\u201d Arrington said in a May 20 X post, adding:
\n\u201cSomething that has to be said though – this hack – which includes home addresses and account balances – will lead to people dying. It probably has already.\u201d
\nSource: Michael ArringtonWhile no passwords, private keys or account funds were exposed, cybercriminals reportedly bribed overseas customer service contractors to access internal systems. This allowed them to steal personal data that could be used in social engineering scams or even physical extortion attempts.
\nRelated: Hoskinson promises audit, is \u2018deeply hurt\u2019 by $600M Cardano treasury claims
\nWith Bitcoin (BTC) trading above $100,000, crypto wealth has become a growing target for criminals. Experts warn that leaked address data could expose high-net-worth individuals to real-world risks.
\nOn May 16, Cointelegraph reported on six violent robberies that targeted cryptocurrency investors, aiming to extort digital assets via kidnapping or torture.
\nIn a ruthless attack on May 4, the father of a French crypto entrepreneur was abducted in Paris, France. The kidnappers cut the victim\u2019s finger and sent a video to his son, demanding 5 million euros in crypto.
\nThe victim was held for two days before French police were able to find and rescue him. According to CNN, five people were arrested in connection with the kidnapping.\u00a0
\nRelated: US crypto funds top $7.5B inflows in 2025 as investor appetite grows
\nCrypto exchanges need \u201clayered\u201d cybersecurity
\nTo prevent similar user data breaches, crypto exchanges need to adopt a \u201clayered defense strategy,\u201d according to Ronghui Gu, the co-founder of CertiK Web3 security firm.
\n\u201cThis can include privileged access management, zero trust architecture, multifactor authentication across internal systems, and continuous monitoring with behavioral analytics,\u201d Gu told Cointelegraph, adding:\u00a0
\n\u201cPreventive measures such as regular phishing simulations, tailored security training, and restricting third-party access to sensitive systems may help reduce these risks.\u201d
\nHowever, crypto platforms will need to \u201crethink their security posture\u201d as attackers \u201cincreasingly target human vulnerabilities rather than technical ones,\u201d added Gu, warning of the rising threat of social engineering schemes.
\nIncidents and losses in 2024 by month. Source: CertiKSocial engineering schemes, such as phishing scams, were the most significant security threat of 2024, costing the industry over $1 billion across 296 incidents, according to CertiK.
\nMagazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra\u2019s plan to win trust: Hodler\u2019s Digest, April 13 \u2013 19Read More<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Source: Cointelegraph.com NewsA recent data breach at crypto exchange Coinbase has raised concerns about user safety after hackers gained access to sensitive information, including home addresses. Coinbase, the world\u2019s third-largest… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129607"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=129607"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129607\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=129607"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=129607"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/cryptospotters.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=129607"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}