Coinbase Faces Legal Firestorm After Massive Customer Data Breach

Concerns over data security in the crypto world have once again taken center stage. One of the most trusted crypto exchanges, Coinbase, is under fire after disclosing a significant breach involving sensitive customer data.

Support Agents Allegedly Bribed, Millions Affected

In a lawsuit filed on May 16 in a New York federal court, plaintiff Paul Bender alleged that Coinbase failed to protect user data during a serious breach. The incident, which began on May 11, involved cybercriminals bribing support agents to gain access to internal systems.

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The stolen data included names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, the last four digits of Social Security numbers, bank details, driver’s licenses, passports, and account data like balances and transaction history. The attackers reportedly demanded a $20 million ransom, which Coinbase refused to pay.

At Least Six Lawsuits Allege Negligence, Delayed Response

Between May 15 and 16, at least six lawsuits were filed against Coinbase. Plaintiffs allege the exchange failed to maintain proper security measures, delayed informing users, and offered no meaningful steps to mitigate harm.

One California-based lawsuit demands Coinbase delete all sensitive data and hire independent auditors to evaluate its systems. Another suit added a claim of unjust enrichment, arguing that Coinbase underinvested in data security to boost profits.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Coinbase estimated potential reimbursement costs to range between $180 million and $400 million. The company has pledged to compensate users who were tricked into sending crypto due to phishing scams linked to the data breach.

Following the news, Coinbase (COIN) shares initially dropped 7% to $244, but recovered with a 9% gain, closing at $266 on May 16.

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