Michaela
Binance co-founder and co-CEO Yi He’s WeChat account has been compromised, with hackers using it to promote the Mubarakah token, briefly driving up its price and reportedly earning $55,000 from the scheme.
Key Points
- Yi He’s WeChat account was hacked, with attackers promoting Mubarakah tokens, netting $55,000.
- Users trusted He’s account, leading to some purchasing the promoted token; Binance will compensate losses via BNB airdrop.
- The incident spotlights risks of social media account compromises and the importance of account security in crypto.
In a post on X, He confirmed that her WeChat account had been hacked, noting that the account had been inactive for some time and the associated phone number had been reassigned. She suggested that attackers exploited support channels and friend-request mechanisms to gain access, and added that the account password was later changed through external verification.
He also noted that some users who saw her WeChat Moments and messages purchased the Mubarakah token promoted by the hackers, likely trusting her endorsement. She added that she plans to personally allocate BNB for an airdrop to compensate users who lost money trading the token on the Binance Web3 Wallet and Alpha platform during the incident.
Blockchain analytics firm Lookonchain reported that the attackers created two new wallets, 0x6739 and 0xD0B8, and used 19,479 USDT to purchase 21.16 million Mubarakah tokens. Following the price surge, the hackers sold 11.95 million tokens for 43,520 USDT and still hold 9.21 million Mubarakah, valued at around $31,000, resulting in a total estimated profit of $55,000.
Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao confirmed the hacking of He’s WeChat account and warned the crypto community against purchasing meme coins promoted by the attackers. He further emphasized that neither she, the official Binance account, nor Binance employees would endorse any such tokens.
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The hacking of He’s WeChat account comes shortly after reports that a Binance employee was suspended following an internal investigation, which found the individual allegedly used insider information to post content on the official Binance Futures social media account for personal gain.
Binance stated that the employee reportedly used non-public information to publish a post within a minute of the token going live on-chain. The individual was immediately suspended, and the exchange has informed local authorities in the employee’s jurisdiction to assess potential legal action.
Related: How Multi-Sig Wallets Secure Teams, DAOs, and Shared Crypto Funds
The incidents spotlight the ongoing challenges crypto platforms face in balancing rapid innovation with security and trust. As Binance navigates these setbacks, the events serve as a reminder to the broader industry of the importance of robust internal controls, vigilant account security, and clear communication with users to maintain confidence in digital asset ecosystems.
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MICHAELA
Michaela is a news writer focused on cryptocurrency and blockchain topics. She prioritizes rigorous research and accuracy to uncover interesting angles and ensure engaging reporting. A lifelong book lover, she applies her passion for reading to deeply explore the constantly evolving crypto world.
