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Binance hackers moved $2.5 billion in single $15 transaction, reports show

Hackers who stole $6.3 billion from Binance transferred roughly 40% of the funds in a single $15 transaction using Ethereum features, raising scrutiny over exchange security controls.

Binance logo in yellow text and icon centered on a black background.
Image: @Cointelegraph

The hackers behind the $6.3 billion breach of cryptocurrency exchange Binance transferred roughly 40% of the stolen assets—about $2.5 billion—in a single transaction that cost just $15, according to Bloomberg reporting citing blockchain security firm Blockaid. Consolidating the massive transfer into one transaction reduced the hackers' chances of being caught in the act.[2][4][5][1][7]

According to Blockaid and Bloomberg, the Ethereum transfer relied on wallet permissions that cost approximately $15 to set up, using a feature from Ethereum's EIP-7702 upgrade. The incident, described by Bankless as the largest crypto exchange hack in history, saw billions swept from exchange balances.[4][5][7][6]

The exploit has drawn focus to Binance's hot wallet safeguards. Experts cited by Cointelegraph noted that while public blockchain records show repeated wallet drains, on-chain data alone cannot establish the nature of Binance's internal transaction limits or signing controls.[3]

Key facts

  • Hackers stole an estimated $6.3 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance.
  • Attackers moved roughly 40% of the stolen funds, totaling about $2.5 billion, in a single transaction.
  • The single transaction cost the hackers only $15 in setup fees and network costs.
  • Blockaid reported that the transfer used wallet permissions enabled by Ethereum's EIP-7702 upgrade.
  • Consolidating the transfer into one transaction reduced the attackers' risk of detection during the exploit, according to Bloomberg.
  • Experts cited by Cointelegraph said blockchain records show repeated wallet drains but do not reveal Binance's internal signing controls or limits.

Sources · 7 sources

  1. TS

    The Straits Times@straits_timesPost on X ·

    Hackers paid US$15 to drain US$2.5b from Binance in one hit https://t.co/hRoPSy6OlJ

    Open source
  2. BL

    Bloomberg@businessPost on X ·

    The hackers who stole $6.3 billion from Binance last week found a way to take 40% of the stolen cryptocurrency in one hit, reducing their chances of being caught in the act, and it cost them just $15. https://t.co/7yXayYFkA6

    Open source
  3. CT

    Coin TelegraphArticle ·

    Binance’s $6.3B hack leaves questions over hot wallet safeguards Experts say blockchain records show repeated wallet drains but cannot establish Binance’s internal signing controls or transaction limits.

    Open source
  4. TE

    Techmeme@TechmemePost on X ·

    Blockaid: Binance hackers stole ~$2.5B, or 40% of the $6.3B haul, in a single Ethereum transaction using wallet permissions that cost just $15 to set up (@sidcoins / Bloomberg) (Visit Techmeme dot com for the link and full context!)

    Open source
  5. TE

    TechmemeArticle ·

    Blockaid: Binance hackers stole ~$2.5B, or 40% of the $6.3B haul, in a single Ethereum transaction using wallet permissions that cost just $15 to set up (Sidhartha Shukla/Bloomberg) Sidhartha Shukla / Bloomberg : Blockaid: Binance hackers stole ~$2.5B, or 40% of the $6.3B haul, in a single Ethereum transaction using wallet permissions that cost just $15 to set up — The hackers who stole $6.3 billion from Binance last week found a way to take 40% of the stolen cryptocurrency in one hit …

    Open source
  6. BA

    Bankless@BanklessPost on X ·

    WEEKLY ROLLUP: Stocks Are Crashing. Can Bitcoin Hold the Line? A Democratic blue wave, a brutal stock market selloff, and the biggest crypto exchange hack in history. Somehow, Bitcoin is still holding a critical support level. @RyanSAdams and @TrustlessState unpack whether the AI bubble is finally popping, what the market crash means for crypto, and how Binance managed to survive a $6B heist. [TIMESTAMPS] 0:00 Intro 1:57 Blue Wave: Democrats Sweep Congress - @DCinvestor 3:33 $2 Trillion Erased: AI Bubble Popping? - @KobeissiLetter 11:44 Will the Dems Come for Crypto? - @0xGrimes - @caprioleio - @WatcherGuru - @EleanorTerrett - @hosseeb - @TrustlessState 21:11 Binance Hack: The $6B Heist, 7 Days Later - @FBI - @zachxbt - @binance - @CoinDesk 27:26 THORChain & the Laundering Fight - @FBICyberBranch - @DefiantNews 32:49 North Korea: Too Close to the Sun? - @TheBlock__ 35:45 Polygon's Hard Fork & the Validator Bribe - @0xPolygon 38:25 How to Rob a Bank: Crypto Was the Getaway Car - @gregory_raymond - @Jrag0x 48:37 DevCon 8: Ethereum Post-Quantum by 2028 - @EFDevcon - @ethereumfndn 51:17 The Ethereum Economic Zone - @kucoincom 52:57 L2Beat Becomes ETHBeat - @ethbeat_org 54:08 Vitalik's Keynote Controversy - @gakonst - @uttam_singhk - @fede_intern 58:58 Coinbase Earnings & Armstrong's Sell Plan - @themotleyfool - @DefiantNews 1:02:53 STRC Back at $100 - @Strategy

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  7. CO

    Cointelegraph@CointelegraphPost on X ·

    🚨 NEW: Binance hackers paid just $15 in network fees to drain $2.5 billion in a single transaction via a feature from Ethereum’s EIP-7702 upgrade, per Bloomberg. https://t.co/RrqgoFKLp7

    Open source