Bitcoin price plunges after cryptocurrency hackers target South Korean exchange

The value of bitcoin has dipped again
Eleanor Rose11 June 2018

Bitcoin has plunged to its lowest price in two months after claims of a fresh hack at a small exchange in South Korea.

The world's best-known cryptocurrency dipped by nearly 10 per cent in a single day, dropping to $6,652 after previously sitting at $7,275, according to CoinDesk's Bitcoin Price Index.

The drop came after South Korean exchange Coinrail reported a "cyber intrusion" and the loss of up to 30 per cent of its reserves of several different cryptocurrencies.

Coinrail, which ranks 98th in the world's top 100 exchanges, said it was freezing stolen tokens and cooperating with a police investigation.

The firm said it could not yet confirm exact losses, but TechCrunch reports that a wallet address linked to the alleged hacker appears to have acquired up to $40 million in stolen coins.

The value of Bitcoin surged during 2017 – it was valued at about £700 ($1,000) in early 2017 before peaking at about £14,041 ($20,000) in December.

However it has lost more than 50 per cent of its value so far this year.

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