Brian Armstrong Praises Indian Police for Arresting Ex-Agent in $400M Coinbase Hack

Crypto exchange Coinbase Global Inc. has seen a major development in the ongoing investigation surrounding a $400 million security breach. As announced by CEO Brian Armstrong, the Indian Police have arrested a former agent involved in the Coinbase hack.

Notably, the arrest follows the Coinbase data breach earlier this year, in which hackers bribed Coinbase’s overseas employees and contractors to steal sensitive customer data. While the compromised data included personal details such as names, addresses, and email addresses, the exchange had ensured that sensitive information, including passwords and other credentials, was not stolen.

Ex-Agent Arrested in Coinbase Hack, Brian Armstrong Speaks Out

According to a recent report, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has revealed the arrest of an ex-customer service agent involved in the $400 million Coinbase hack. Following the arrest, he expressed his enthusiasm for the efforts of the Hyderabad Police of India and noted,

“We have zero tolerance for bad behavior and will continue to work with law enforcement to bring bad actors to justice. Thanks to the Hyderabad Police in India, an ex-Coinbase customer service agent was just arrested. Another one down and more still to come.”

Significantly, the arrest is the result of a joint effort of Coinbase and international law enforcement. The company has been working with authorities, including the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office, to bring a complete resolution to the breach. Indian police have also been making efforts to investigate the Coinbase hack. It is also noteworthy that the move follows Coinbase’s return to India after facing two years of regulatory issues.

Coinbase Hack: Inside the $400M Security Breach

Interestingly, the Coinbase hack could be traced back to May 2025, when the exchange revealed a significant security incident. After stealing customer information with the help of the alleged ex-agent, the hackers demanded a $20 million ransom from the company. However, instead of paying the ransom, Brian Armstrong announced $20 million reward for the information related to the hack.  

At the time, Coinbase stated that the incident resulted in the loss of about $180 million-$400 million. The company also revealed that even before receiving the hacker’s email in May, the team had suspected illegal activity as early as January. Coinbase Chief Security Officer Philip Martin stated,

“What these attackers were doing was finding Coinbase employees and contractors based in India who were associated with our business process outsourcing or support operations, that kind of thing, and bribing them in order to obtain customer data.”

The latest development within the Coinbase hack saga is indicative of the exchange’s efforts to resolve the matter. The exchange has always been active in addressing similar security and regulatory issues. For instance, the news comes hot on the heels of Coinbase’s lawsuit against the US States, including Michigan, Illinois, and Connecticut. The case revolves around Coinbase’s allegations that the US States are overstepping their bounds by regulating prediction markets.