Mercado Bitcoin Suspends Deposits and Withdrawals After Multi-Chain Security Breach Draining Approximately $49 Million
What happened
São Paulo-based Mercado Bitcoin paused deposits and withdrawals after unauthorized transfers drained an estimated $49 million across up to 17 blockchains.
The Context
- Rapid containment mitigated direct client losses: The platform, serving 4.8 million users, contained the incident swiftly, reporting no customer balance impacts or private data leaks while committing to absorb financial fallout.
- Stablecoin issuers stepped in as immediate recovery agents: Tether froze over 4.5 million USDT, and Paxos joined secondary containment efforts, locking down roughly $10 million to $11 million in stolen assets.
- The breach follows wider centralized infrastructure pressure: The incident occurred shortly after a reported $6 billion exploit at Binance and follows Tether's $20 million investment in Mercado Bitcoin in July 2026.
The Number
— The estimated capital drained across multiple hot wallets and chains, testing institutional resilience in Latin America's largest digital asset market.
Takeaway
Expect centralized exchanges to accelerate automated multi-chain freeze protocols with stablecoin issuers to insulate operations as cross-chain vectors expand.
Curated tech headlines including AI stories.
"Influential aggregator surfacing the day’s top tech/AI links."
— A47 Editor
Brazil's largest crypto exchange Mercado Bitcoin halts withdrawals after a breach involving $46M+ in assets, per Arkham; Tether froze 4.5M+ USDT in response (Jason Shubnell/The Block)
Brazil's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, halted deposits and withdrawals after a security breach involving more than $46 million in assets, according to Arkham data reported by The Block. Tether froze more than 4.5 million USDT link...
Covers blockchain, cryptocurrency news, project analysis, and market insights.
"Cointelegraph is a leading crypto-focused media outlet known for timely news, analysis, and educational content related to blockchain and digital assets."
— A47 Editor
Mercado Bitcoin wallets show post-hack transfers after $46M theft
Brazil's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, paused deposits and withdrawals on November 2 after identifying a security incident in one of its systems, with an estimated $46 million reported stolen. The exchange said customer funds and ...
Covers Bitcoin plus altcoin news, market updates, and educational resources.
"Bitcoin.com provides news, market data, and guides focused on Bitcoin and the wider crypto industry."
— A47 Editor
Brazil’s Mercado Bitcoin Halts Withdrawals After Estimated $46M Stolen
Brazil's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, halted deposits and withdrawals on November 2 after identifying a security incident in one of its systems, with an estimated $46 million reported stolen. The exchange suspended operations whi...
Real-time updates, analysis, and reports on the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors.
"Crypto News delivers real-time updates, analysis, and reports on the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors."
— A47 Editor
Tether freezes over $4.5m USDT linked to Mercado Bitcoin breach
Tether froze more than 4.5 million USDT linked to the security incident at Brazil's Mercado Bitcoin, which occurred on November 2 and prompted the exchange to suspend deposits and withdrawals while it investigates suspicious fund movements. Tether CE...
Real-time updates, analysis, and reports on the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors.
"Crypto News delivers real-time updates, analysis, and reports on the blockchain and cryptocurrency sectors."
— A47 Editor
Brazil’s Mercado Bitcoin reports security incident, freezes withdrawals
Brazil's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, temporarily suspended deposits and withdrawals after identifying a security incident in one of its systems on November 2, according to Crypto News and Crypto Briefing reporting. The exchange ...
Research, news, and analysis on blockchain startups, DeFi, and regulations.
"Crypto Briefing provides research, news, and analysis on blockchain startups, DeFi, and crypto regulations with investor-focused coverage."
— A47 Editor
Brazil’s top exchange Mercado Bitcoin freezes deposits and withdrawals after security incident
Brazil's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, has frozen deposits and withdrawals following a security incident, according to a report from Crypto Briefing. The suspension marks a significant operational disruption for one of the country...