Just In: Canadian Crypto Exchange Catalyx Temporarily Suspends Trading, Withdrawals

Catalyx, a Canadian cryptocurrency trading platform, announced a security breach on Thursday. It involves the loss of crypto assets in the exchange’s custody.

Security Breach at Crypto Exchange

CatalX CTS Ltd., the operator of the crypto exchange, said in a press release that the security incident is suspected to involve an employee.

The events have disrupted normal trading and withdrawal activity for the Canadian platform.

It said, “Due to the Loss, all crypto and fiat currency withdrawals from the Platform and all trading activities on the Platform have been temporarily suspended.”

Details from the cease order

Based on the interim cease order dated December 21, 2023, the Alberta Securities Commission announced the confidentiality of admitted evidence.

The order was granted under sections 33 and 198 of the Securities Act (Alberta) and mandates a 15-day pause to trading and purchasing of any securities or derivatives by the respondents. The order will expire on January 5, 2024, if it is not extended by the Commission.

While the crypto exchange has ceased all trading and withdrawals, it is reportedly being audited by Deloitte.

Crypto losses in 2023

Meanwhile, this isn’t the first incident in which a crypto business has lost funds due to an insider breach.

Earlier in July 2023, reports revealed that crypto payments provider CoinsPaid, suffered a $37 million loss. The breach reportedly stemmed from hackers gaining access to an employee’s computer through a deceptive job offer. Subsequently, they tricked the employee into installing a program that led to the theft of critical data.

In a separate incident, LastPass, a firm specializing in password data encryption, faced a security breach in its cloud storage service due to an employee’s compromised credentials.

According to a recent De.Fi report, the decentralized finance sector faced losses totaling approximately $1.95 billion in 2023. Meanwhile, Ethereum emerged as the most targeted blockchain, suffering about $1.35 billion in losses across 170 breaches.