Hackers extort French crypto firm Waltio after stealing user data

Hackers have targeted Waltio, a French cryptocurrency accounting platform, demanding a ransom after stealing emails and tax reports from 50,000 customers. The company reported the incident on January 21, 2026, stating that no passwords or highly sensitive data were compromised. French authorities are now investigating the sophisticated cyberattack.

On January 21, 2026, Waltio, a platform that helps users calculate and report digital asset capital gains for tax purposes, became the target of an attempted extortion following a sophisticated cyberattack. The company disclosed that hackers accessed certain internal data, including customer emails and gains and losses from 2024 tax reports, affecting around 50,000 users according to French daily Le Parisien.

Waltio's CEO, Pierre Morizot, emphasized in a statement that the breach did not involve passwords or other critical customer information. However, he warned of potential follow-up risks, such as phishing or social engineering scams. “Some attackers may use contextual elements (e.g. the existence of a tax report or aggregated information) to appear credible,” Morizot said, highlighting how cybercriminals might impersonate trusted contacts to extract wallet keys or other details to steal funds.

The company promptly filed a complaint with French authorities for attempted extortion and violation of an automated data processing system. The cybercrime unit of France’s public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the incident.

Bitcoin developer Jameson Lopp drew attention to the breach on X (formerly Twitter), calling it “more terrible news for French cryptocurrency users.” This event adds to a string of high-profile crypto-related crimes in France, including the 2025 kidnapping of Ledger co-founder David Balland and his wife, who were held for 24 hours.

Waltio advised customers to remain vigilant against unsolicited communications that could lead to further exploitation.

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Police raid and arrests in a €600 million cryptocurrency scam bust across Europe, showing seized assets and suspects.
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Nine arrested in Europe over €600 million crypto scam

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European authorities have arrested nine suspects in a multinational operation targeting a cryptocurrency investment fraud network that stole at least €600 million from victims. The late October sweep involved agencies from several countries and resulted in the seizure of cash, cryptocurrency, and luxury items. Victims were lured through deceptive online tactics but could not recover their funds.

After a record 2025 for wrench attacks on cryptocurrency holders, as previously analyzed, experts forecast further increases in 2026. These physical coercions to steal digital assets are underreported amid law enforcement challenges and surging crypto adoption, warns TRM Labs.

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Wealthy cryptocurrency investors, once known for flaunting their fortunes, are now prioritizing privacy in response to targeted extortion attempts called wrench attacks. Bloomberg journalist Olivia Solon examines this shift in the latest Tech In Depth newsletter. These attacks have increasingly focused on crypto holders in recent times.

Attackers drained nearly $341,000 in USDC from over 1,000 user accounts at Kontigo, a fintech app focused on Venezuela and Latin America. The company quickly refunded all affected users but has not detailed the attack method. This incident follows the startup's loss of U.S. banking partners amid compliance issues and political instability in Venezuela.

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Cybercriminals stole a record $2.7 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, according to blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis and TRM Labs. North Korean hackers accounted for over $2 billion of the total, marking a 51% increase from the previous year. The largest single incident was a $1.4 billion breach at the Bybit exchange.

French cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Ledger is preparing for an initial public offering in the United States, potentially as soon as this year. The company, valued at $1.5 billion in 2023, could reach over $4 billion in the IPO, according to reports citing unnamed sources. CEO Pascal Gauthier has emphasized the appeal of New York as a hub for crypto investments.

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Cybercriminals have compromised trusted Linux applications on the Snap Store by seizing expired domains, allowing them to push malware that steals cryptocurrency recovery phrases. Security experts from SlowMist and Ubuntu contributor Alan Pope highlighted the attack, which targets established publisher accounts to distribute malicious updates impersonating popular wallets. Canonical has removed the affected snaps, but calls for stronger safeguards persist.

 

 

 

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