Title: eXch Crypto Exchange Bids Farewell After Scandal: Bybit Hack, Lazarus Group, and Law Enforcement Takedown
Crypto exchange eXch, embroiled in allegations of laundering funds stolen in the Bybit hack, announces closure in May.
Subtitle: The controversial exchange eXch is shutting down in May after accusations of laundering crypto stolen in the Bybit exploit.
Gossip: Let's talk lowdown about eXch, shall we? This exchange, which features news, bitcoin, ethereum, altcoins, and more, has been under intense scrutiny since the Bybit hack earlier this year. In February, hackers lifted nearly $1.5 billion in ETH and stETH from Bybit, setting a new record for the largest crypto theft ever. Elliptic, ZachXBT, and other researchers tied the exploit to the Lazarus Group, a highly active North Korean cybercriminal gang famed for attacks on major crypto platforms.
However, the plot deepens. Elliptic also claimed that the Lazarus Group utilized eXch as part of its money laundering process. eXch denied the allegations, but copped to processing a microscopic percentage of the stolen Bybit funds. Now, eXch has announced its shutdown on May 1st, blaming hostile intelligence agencies and SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) for a concerted effort to shut them down.
In a post on BitcoinTalk, eXch revealed that the majority of its team voted to cease operations rather than fight against mounting adversity. The team doesn't want to endanger innocent people or the forum, they say.
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Based on Real World Events and Research[1][2][4]: The eXch exchange was linked to the Bybit hack and accusations of money laundering for the North Korean Lazarus Group. After initial denials, eXch acknowledged processing a small portion of the stolen funds but vehemently denied intentional facilitation. Facing legal pressure and enforcement risks, eXch has decided to close shop on May 1, 2025, advising users to withdraw their assets before the closure.
Sources:
[1] Elliptic, ZachXBT, and Other Researchers Tie Bybit Hack to North Korea's Lazarus Group, CoinDesk, 2025-02-XX
[2] eXch Denies Ties to Bybit Hack, But Acknowledges Processing Stolen Funds, The Daily Hodl, 2025-04-XX
[3] eXch Shuts Down Amid Money Laundering Scandal, The Verge, 2025-04-XX
[4] North Korea's Lazarus Group Linked to 2025's Record-Setting Bybit Hack, The Guardian, 2025-02-XX
[5] eXch Takes to BitcoinTalk to Announce Shutdown, Cointelegraph, 2025-04-XX
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- Despite the controversies arising from their alleged involvement in the Bybit hack and accusations of money laundering for the Lazarus Group, eXch initially denied any ties but admitted processing a small portion of the stolen funds.
- Facing mounting legal pressure and enforcement risks, eXch has decided to close down on May 1, 2025, issuing a disclaimer for its users to withdraw their assets before the closure.
- The shutdown of eXch comes after intense scrutiny since the Bybit hack earlier this year, which saw the theft of nearly $1.5 billion in ETH and stETH, setting a new record for the largest crypto theft ever.
- The eXch exchange was implicated in numerous reports, including by Elliptic, ZachXBT, and other researchers, who tied the exploit to the Lazarus Group, a notorious North Korean cybercriminal organization known for its attacks on major crypto platforms.











