Brazil's Mercado Bitcoin hacked for $40 million across 10 ch
On November 2, 2026, Brazilian exchange Mercado Bitcoin suspended withdrawals after anomalous transfers hit at least 10 blockchain networks, with security researchers estimating that more than $40 million in assets had been moved out. The exchange said it had contained the incident and reported no customer losses or data breach, while Tether froze 4.5 million USDT. The two sources differ on the scope of the suspension.
Event Timeline
- [11-02 15:53] Brazil’s Mercado Bitcoin halts withdrawals after $40 million drained across 10 chains（CoinDesk）
- [11-02 15:53] Brazil’s Mercado Bitcoin halts withdrawals after $40 million drained across 10 chains（CoinDesk）
- [11-02 18:06] Mercado Bitcoin Suspends Withdrawals After $40M in Suspcious Transfers（Bitcoinist）
- [11-02 18:06] Mercado Bitcoin Suspends Withdrawals After $40M in Suspcious Transfers（Bitcoinist）
Background and Impact
At 15:53 on November 2, 2026, CoinDesk reported that Brazilian exchange Mercado Bitcoin had suspended withdrawals after roughly $40 million in funds were transferred out across 10 chains. At 18:06 the same day, Bitcoinist gave a more detailed account: the Brazil-based platform suspended deposits and withdrawals, and the anomalous transfers affected wallets on at least 10 blockchain networks; security researchers estimated that more than $40 million in crypto assets had been moved to new addresses.
The two sources diverge on key details, and these must be presented side by side as they stand. On the scope of the suspension, CoinDesk's headline mentions only "halts withdrawals," while Bitcoinist says deposits and withdrawals were suspended at the same time. On the amount, the $40 million figure is an estimate by security researchers; the materials contain no loss figure published by the exchange itself, and the two should not be conflated. In addition, Bitcoinist mentions that Tether froze 4.5 million USDT, but its original text is truncated at that point and does not explain the full ownership and handling details of the frozen assets.
Regarding the handling of the incident, the exchange's position is that the situation has been contained, with no customer losses and no data breach reported. There is room between this statement and the third-party estimate of "more than $40 million transferred out" that needs to be filled by subsequent information: whether the transferred assets belonged to the exchange's own funds or to customer assets, and whether any compensation arrangements exist, are not addressed in the materials. Based on the information disclosed so far, the incident's impact spans at least 10 blockchain networks — an anomalous movement of funds occurring simultaneously across chains and multiple networks, rather than an isolated incident on a single chain.
For ordinary users, the most direct takeaway from this kind of incident is custody risk: while assets are held on a centralized platform, the availability of withdrawals depends on the platform's own risk controls and the progress of its handling. After similar incidents, search demand typically rises for platform entry points such as Huobi HTX app registration and download, Gate.io app registration and download, Bitget app registration and download, Binance app registration and download, and OKX app registration and download, but migrating between platforms does not mean eliminating risk — users still need to verify official channels and announcements themselves. As of the reporting times above, Mercado Bitcoin had not stated in the information provided a timetable for resuming deposits and withdrawals.
Frequently Asked Questions
### In this incident, were customer assets actually lost?
The exchange says it has contained the incident and has reported no customer losses or data breach; the "more than $40 million transferred out" figure is an estimate by security researchers, not a loss figure published by the exchange. Whether customer assets were involved and whether there is any compensation plan are not stated in the materials and must be confirmed by the exchange's subsequent announcements.
### At this point, is it only withdrawals that are halted, or both deposits and withdrawals?
The two sources differ: CoinDesk says it halted withdrawals, while Bitcoinist says deposits and withdrawals were suspended simultaneously. As of the reporting time, the materials contain no unified statement from the exchange, and readers should view the two accounts side by side.
### What should be watched for going forward?
Three points are worth watching: the exchange's announcement on resuming deposits and withdrawals, whether it discloses a specific loss amount and customer compensation arrangements, and the subsequent handling of the 4.5 million USDT frozen by Tether. The materials do not mention any involvement by regulators or law enforcement.