Hackers steal 18,270 BTC from Binance, topping Tesla’s holdings and El Salvador’s reserve
On October 29 2026 hackers moved 18,270 bitcoin from Binance’s hot wallet, valued at about $1.4 billion using a $78,500 per‑coin price. The haul exceeds Tesla’s disclosed 11,509 BTC and is roughly 2.3 times the 7,820 BTC held by El Salvador’s national reserve. Binance says roughly $3 billion of the total $6.3 billion theft has been frozen on‑chain and has set aside more than $6.34 billion to cover losses, while withdrawals remain suspended.
Why it matters
Binance’s loss coverage pledge means the exchange will absorb the financial hit, but the frozen $3 billion may limit liquidity for other market participants. The size of the theft could pressure Bitcoin prices and highlights security risks for large crypto custodians.
Key facts
- 1Hackers stole 18,270 BTC, worth about $1.4 billion at $78,500 per coin. coindesk.com
- 2The theft occurred on Thursday, October 29 2026. coindesk.com
- 3Tesla holds 11,509 BTC. coindesk.com
- 4El Salvador’s national reserve contains about 7,820 BTC. coindesk.com
- 5The total loss across all tokens is estimated at $6.3 billion. coindesk.com
- 6Approximately $3 billion of the stolen assets have been frozen on‑chain. coindesk.com
Summary written by AlphAI AI Desk from 3 of 3 sources. Not investment advice. Figures are as stated by the linked sources.