Brazil's Major Exchange Mercado Bitcoin Suspends Deposits and Withdrawals After Estimated Losses Exceeding ¥6.3 Billion

Mercado Bitcoin, one of Brazil's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, halted deposits and withdrawals on the 2nd following a security incident, with on-chain analytics firm Hypernative estimating losses exceeding ¥63 billion (~$40 million). The exchange stated that customer funds were not affected and no data was leaked, and it published the destination addresses across five networks where funds were sent. The incident underscores ongoing security risks at major Latin American exchanges, a region where Mercado Bitcoin is a leading player. Watch for confirmation of the exact loss amount, whether the exchange resumes withdrawals, and any recovery or negotiation efforts with the attacker.