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Security & Hacks · 1 min read

Mercado Bitcoin to Begin Phased Reopening Following $46M Hot Wallet Breach

The Brazilian exchange said it will start restoring read-only account access on Monday and plans to cover all affected client assets.

Editorial oversight: Julian Mercer, Chief Editor
Neutral

At a glance

What happened
Mercado Bitcoin announced a phased restart beginning Monday after an estimated $46 million exploit targeted its hot wallets.
Why it matters
The exchange has pledged to use corporate funds to fully replace compromised assets, having already frozen $15 million with industry assistance.
Who is affected
Mercado Bitcoin customers with frozen account balances, trading access, and pending withdrawals.
What's next
Web platform access for balance and statement viewing begins Monday, followed by trading and withdrawals after security testing.
Primary source
cointelegraph.com: Mercado Bitcoin says phased reopening to begin Monday, will cover losses

Key points

  • Mercado Bitcoin plans a phased platform restoration starting Monday following a breach of over $46 million.
  • Initial access will be limited to viewing balances, while trading, transfers, and withdrawals stay halted pending security audits.
  • More than $15 million of the illicitly transferred funds have been frozen, and the firm pledged to fully reimburse affected assets.

Brazilian exchange Mercado Bitcoin will initiate a phased reopening on Monday following a security incident that led to an estimated loss exceeding $46 million, according to a statement from the company 1. The breach occurred on Monday, when unauthorized actors drained funds from hot wallets and customer deposit addresses via routine standard transactions 1.

Under the initial phase of the recovery, clients will be granted access solely via the web platform to inspect account balances, statements, and existing holdings 1. Account transfers, outgoing withdrawals, and order-book trading will remain paused until external cybersecurity assessments confirm system integrity 1.

Asset Recovery and Capital Reserves

Mercado Bitcoin said it will utilize internal corporate reserves to make clients whole 1. The platform confirmed that over $15 million of the stolen assets have already been frozen with assistance from external industry partners 1. The firm's execution desk is preparing to execute open-market repurchases across domestic and offshore venues to replenish the depleted reserves 1.

The exchange highlighted that its balance sheet remains solvent, noting an existing capital injection of $20 million received from stablecoin operator Tether to fund ongoing operational activities 1. The broader digital asset market was trading higher at the time of writing, with Bitcoin changing hands at $80,379.

Sources

  1. [1] Mercado Bitcoin says phased reopening to begin Monday, will cover losses — cointelegraph.com, November 4, 2026

Written by Basis Desk's newsroom system from the primary sources above and machine-verified against them before publication. Market figures marked "at the time of writing" come from live exchange data. Report an error: corrections@basisdesk.news · corrections policy.

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