Binance fires back at WazirX over control claims

Binance has denied responsibility for the WazirX cyber-attack, stating it never controlled the platform or the compromised wallet.

Cryptocurrency exchange Binance publicly refuted claims of responsibility for a recent cyber-attack on the Indian crypto exchange WazirX, emphasizing that it never controlled the platform. Binance also criticized WazirX co-founder Nischal Shetty for misleading statements.

In a Sept. 17 blog post, Binance denied claims that it had acquired or controlled WazirX, asserting that it never “owned, controlled, or operated WazirX at any time, including before, during, or after the July 2024 attack.” Binance criticized Shetty for misleading statements attempting to shift blame for the attack, which targeted a wallet managed by WazirX and the third-party custodian Liminal.

“[…] [Nischal Shetty] is trying to deflect the blame and claim that Binance may somehow be responsible for the losses suffered by WazirX users and creditors as a result of the cyber-attack. This is false, and any suggestion of the sort is outrageously misleading.”

Binance

Binance distances from WazirX’s downfall

While Binance had previously provided tech solutions to WazirX, it rejected any responsibility for the attack’s aftermath. Binance pointed out that once WazirX’s funds were removed from its platform due to a failed acquisition deal, the selection of Liminal as a custody provider was made independently by Shetty and Zettai, without Binance being consulted or informed.

WazirX incurred a $235 million loss from the July 18 cyber-attack, which severely impacted the exchange and led it to seek a Scheme of Arrangement in Singapore, a restructuring process under local insolvency laws. An independent audit by Grant Thornton later found no evidence implicating Liminal Custody’s infrastructure in the multi-million dollar hack.