Key Takeaways
- Mercado Bitcoin halts withdrawals after a security incident that the exchange says it quickly contained on November 2, 2026.
- Mercado Bitcoin hack estimate: Hypernative flagged more than $40 million in suspicious transfers across at least 10 blockchains, a figure the exchange has not confirmed.
- Tether froze more than 4.5 million USDT tied to the incident.
- Binance hack timing: Mercado Bitcoin's halt came four days after hackers drained more than $6 billion from Binance on October 29, and Mercado Bitcoin has not linked the two incidents.
Brazil's Mercado Bitcoin halted withdrawals and deposits on November 2, 2026, after a security incident that security firms estimate at more than $40 million. The halt came four days after hackers drained more than $6 billion from Binance on October 29, and Mercado Bitcoin has not linked the two incidents. Mercado Bitcoin has not confirmed that figure, which Hypernative flagged in suspicious transfers across at least 10 blockchains.
Hypernative Flagged More Than $40 Million Across at Least 10 Blockchains
Decrypt reported that Hypernative, a blockchain security firm, flagged more than $40 million in suspicious transfers that may be linked to the incident. A blockchain is a shared digital ledger that records transfers. The preliminary analysis spans at least 10 blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and Tron, and Mercado Bitcoin has not confirmed that figure.
CoinDesk was more definite. Its report said wallets tied to the platform were drained across at least 10 blockchains, and that security firms estimate the loss is more than $40 million. Its headline described $40 million drained across 10 chains.
Mercado Bitcoin said in a Portuguese-language statement on X, in English translation: "We identified and quickly contained a security incident in one of our systems early this morning." The same statement added: "As a preventive protection measure, deposits and withdrawals are temporarily suspended." Decrypt quotes no dollar figure from the exchange.
Tether, the stablecoin issuer, has frozen more than 4.5 million USDT connected to the incident, according to a post on X by its chief executive. A stablecoin is a crypto token designed to track the value of a currency, usually the U.S. dollar.
Four Days After Binance's Theft, the $40 Million Figure Is Still an Estimate
Decrypt reported that hackers drained more than $6 billion from Binance on October 29. The Mercado Bitcoin halt on November 2 came four days after the Binance theft. Binance has since reopened withdrawals and said it replenished about 95% of the affected assets. Mercado Bitcoin has not linked the two incidents.
The more than $40 million figure comes from outside security firms, and Mercado Bitcoin has not confirmed it.
What Mercado Bitcoin Has Confirmed and What Remains Unknown
Mercado Bitcoin's statement describes a security incident, its containment and the suspension of deposits and withdrawals. Mercado Bitcoin has not confirmed the $40 million figure, and it has not said who is behind the incident or how the attackers got in.
CoinDesk reported that the transfers were plain transactions, not an exploit of smart contract code, and that how the attacker got signing access is unknown. A smart contract is a program that runs on a blockchain. Signing access means control of the keys that approve transfers. CoinDesk also wrote that a report claims the attacker now holds roughly 2,852 ETH, 106 BTC, 10,700 SOL, 6.7 million XLM and 77,000 AVAX, plus more than 200 other tokens.
As of publication, the $40 million figure remains a third-party estimate that the exchange has not confirmed.
People Also Ask
What happened at Mercado Bitcoin on November 2, 2026?
Brazil's largest crypto exchange, Mercado Bitcoin, suspended deposits and withdrawals on November 2, 2026, after what it called a security incident in one of its systems. Hypernative flagged more than $40 million in suspicious transfers across at least 10 blockchains, but Mercado Bitcoin has not confirmed that figure.
Has Mercado Bitcoin confirmed the $40 million figure?
No. As of publication, Mercado Bitcoin has not confirmed the more than $40 million figure, which comes from a preliminary analysis by the blockchain security firm Hypernative. Mercado Bitcoin has also not disclosed how the attackers got in.
Is the Mercado Bitcoin hack linked to the Binance theft?
Mercado Bitcoin has not linked its incident to the Binance theft. Decrypt reported that hackers drained more than $6 billion from Binance on October 29, four days before the Mercado Bitcoin suspension.
How much did Tether freeze after the Mercado Bitcoin incident?
Tether has frozen more than 4.5 million USDT connected to the Mercado Bitcoin incident, according to a post on X by its chief executive.