Coinbase Hacker Taunts Investigator After $42.5M BTC-to-ETH Swap via Thorchain

In a bold move, a hacker who stole $42.5 million in Bitcoin from Coinbase users mocked blockchain investigator ZachXBT after converting the funds to ethereum via Thorchain. The cybercriminal embedded a derogatory "L bozo" message in the transaction, further escalating the audacity of the attack. This incident follows Coinbase’s recent disclosure of a sophisticated social engineering scheme that compromised nearly 97,000 user accounts.

Coinbase Hacker Mocks Analyst After Swapping $42.5M BTC to ETH

A brazen hacker taunted blockchain investigator ZachXBT after converting $42.5 million in stolen Bitcoin to Ethereum via Thorchain. The cybercriminal embedded a derisive "L bozo" message—internet slang mocking their pursuer—directly into the blockchain transaction.

The incident follows Coinbase’s disclosure of a sophisticated social engineering attack where a customer service agent was bribed to compromise nearly 97,000 user accounts. While sensitive credentials remained secure, the breach exposed government IDs and potentially email addresses. The exchange has refused to pay a $20 million ransom demand.

ZachXBT Links 188 BTC From Coinbase Hack to THORChain

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has alleged that over 188 Bitcoin stolen from users in the Coinbase breach were swapped for Ethereum using the permissionless protocol THORChain. The claim, made public on social media platform X, has sparked debate around the role of decentralized platforms in handling illicit funds.

The controversy escalated when ZachXBT revealed the threat actor behind the $300 million Coinbase theft began trolling him with on-chain messages. THORChain now faces scrutiny as critics question whether permissionless protocols should bear responsibility for tracking or restricting transactions involving stolen assets.

Coinbase Hacker Taunts Investigator ZachXBT After Moving $42M in Bitcoin

A brazen hacker linked to the 2024 Coinbase breach has escalated their provocation by embedding a mocking message in an Ethereum transaction. The attacker moved bitcoin worth $42 million while taunting blockchain investigator ZachXBT with the slang phrase "L bozo" and a James Worthy meme video link.

The hacker’s digital signature matches the Coinbase breach that compromised thousands of users’ data last December. ZachXBT publicly identified the connection through his Telegram investigation channel, revealing how blockchain transparency enables both crime and accountability.

This incident underscores the paradoxical nature of crypto security - Immutable transaction records create permanent evidence trails, yet sophisticated attackers continue exploiting exchange vulnerabilities. The taunt highlights growing tensions between anonymous hackers and the investigators tracking their on-chain movements.