Crypto Hedge Fund BlockTower Capital Faces Major Hack

Bhushan Akolkar
May 15, 2024
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Highlights

  • Crypto hedge fund BlockTower reportedly lost part of its $1.7 billion in AUM.
  • BlockTower has employed blockchain forensics to identify the nature of the theft.
  • Crypto hacks have increased in recent times amid growing retail and institutional participation.

BlockTower, one of the major cryptocurrency hedge funds has suffered a major hack recently as fraudsters managed to partially drain from its total AUM. Sources familiar with the matter reported this incident while refusing to discuss further sensitive information. As per data provided by PitchBook, BlockTower has more than $1.7 billion in assets under management.

BlockTower Takes Corrective Measures

Currently, the hacker has absconded with the hedge fund yet to recover its lost money. However, BlockTower has employed blockchain forensics analysts in order to find the nature of the theft. They have also informed all their key partners about the recent heist, reported Bloomberg. However, the crypto hedge fund has yet to release any official statement regarding this matter.

Established in 2017, BlockTower operates from its offices in Miami and New York. The company has made strategic investments in various ventures, such as nonfungible token developer Dapper Labs, gaming studio Sky Mavis, and Terraform Labs, the creator of the TerraUSD stablecoin. Notably, BlockTower successfully raised a $150 million venture fund in 2022.

This is not the first time that crypto hedge fund BlockTower has been facing a setback. Last year in 2023, the country had to shut down its “market-neutral” crypto fund, which handled over $100 million, after the investment opportunities for the funds’ strategy dried up.

Rising Number of Crypto Hacks

There’s been a rising number of crypto hacking incidents reportedly recently in the market. The notorious Lazarus Group from North Korea has been behind most of the hacks by using crypto-mixing platforms like Tornado Cash.

Last week itself, a scammer stole more than $71 million worth of $WBTC coins, however, later returned the same.

The cryptocurrency community suffered a major setback when the prominent exchange “Rain,” based in Bahrain, fell victim to a severe hack on April 29, 2024. This breach led to the loss of $14.8 million in BTC, ETH, SOL, and XRP.

The hack was brought to the attention by blockchain expert ZachXBT, who identified suspicious activity hinting at a looming security threat to Rain’s platform.

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Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
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Why Trust CoinGape

CoinGape has covered the cryptocurrency industry since 2017, aiming to provide informative insights Read more…to our readers. Our journal analysts bring years of experience in market analysis and blockchain technology to ensure factual accuracy and balanced reporting. By following our Editorial Policy, our writers verify every source, fact-check each story, rely on reputable sources, and attribute quotes and media correctly. We also follow a rigorous Review Methodology when evaluating exchanges and tools. From emerging blockchain projects and coin launches to industry events and technical developments, we cover all facets of the digital asset space with unwavering commitment to timely, relevant information.

About Author
About Author
Bhushan is a seasoned crypto writer with over eight years of experience spanning more than 10,000 contributions across multiple platforms like CoinGape, CoinSpeaker, Bitcoinist, Crypto News Flash, and others. Being a Fintech enthusiast, he loves reporting across Crypto, Blockchain, DeFi, Global Macros with a keen understanding in financial markets. 

He is committed to continuous learning and stays motivated by sharing the knowledge he acquires. In his free time, Bhushan enjoys reading thriller fiction novels and occasionally explores his culinary skills. Bhushan has a bachelors degree in electronics engineering, however, his interest in finance and economics drives him to crypto and blockchain.
Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.
Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.