According to Cointelegraph: Crypto exchange Poloniex has confirmed the identity of the hacker responsible for stealing over $100 million in digital assets. According to a messaged shared by exchange social media account. The message states that they are offering the perpetrator the opportunity to return the stolen assets in exchange for a $10 million bounty.
The on-chain message, which was shared via social media by blockchain security firm PeckShield, saw Poloniex addressing the thief directly. The exchange confirmed it has identified the hacker and is now working with law enforcement agencies across America, Russia, and China.
Poloniex also clarified that the stolen funds are marked and unusable. Despite identifying the culprit, the exchange is providing them with the chance to return the stolen assets by November 25 in exchange for the substantial "white hat" reward. However, if they fail to return the funds, law enforcement will intervene.
While Poloniex's message shows the hacker's identity is confirmed, doubts persist within the crypto community. One member speculated on social media that if the hacker was indeed identified, the exchange wouldn't require coordinating with police across three countries and sending the message in 15 diverse languages.
The breach occurred earlier this month when Poloniex's crypto wallet experienced unusual outflows. By November 10, multiple blockchain security firms verified that more than $100 million had been extracted from the exchange's wallet.
Poloniex promptly disabled its compromised wallet for maintenance post-attack while offering a 5% bounty for the return of the funds. On November 15, with the assistance of a security auditing firm, the exchange boosted its security protocols and reinstated withdrawals.
