Could You Be at Risk After the BigONE Crypto Breach?
In a recent breach, BigONE Exchange found itself at the center of a cyber heist, losing $27 million in various cryptocurrencies. While the exchange has assured users that private keys and personal data were untouched, the incident raises concerns about the safety of digital assets. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, understanding the implications of such breaches becomes crucial for safeguarding your investments.
What Datapoints Were Leaked?
When news broke of the BigONE Exchange breach in 2025, the immediate worry for most users was: “What exactly got out?” Let’s get straight to the facts.
What Was Targeted?
The attackers struck BigONE’s hot wallet, the digital equivalent of a cash register. Hot wallets are online wallets used by exchanges to facilitate withdrawals and trades. They’re convenient, but also more exposed to cyber threats compared to cold wallets, which are kept offline.
$27 million in cryptocurrencies were stolen. The assets included a mix of digital coins, not just a single type.
According to BigONE’s official statement, no private keys or individual user data were accessed. The hackers didn’t break into customer accounts or grab sensitive identity details.
What Stayed Safe?
BigONE was quick to assure users:
Private keys—the codes that actually control your crypto—remained secure.
Personal information like email addresses, identity documents, or contact details were not part of the breach.
What Does This Mean for Users?
Funds in the hot wallet were drained, but user accounts and their deeper security layers held up.
The exchange’s statement aims to reassure, but it’s normal for users to feel uneasy after such an event.
A breach like this spotlights the risks of keeping assets in exchange hot wallets. Even when your personal info isn’t compromised, the fact that funds were siphoned off in such a large amount is a wake-up call for anyone trusting a third party with their crypto.
Should You Be Worried?
When a major crypto exchange like BigONE gets breached, it’s natural to feel uneasy. Even if the company promises to cover all user losses, the incident sends a loud signal—no platform is ever completely immune.
What Does This Mean for You?
Here’s what matters most for individual users:
Temporary Financial Risk: While BigONE committed to reimbursing users, not every exchange has the resources or willingness to do so. If your assets are stored on a less established platform, the risk is higher.
Operational Disruptions: After a breach, withdrawals and deposits might be paused. Even a short delay can be stressful, especially if you need access to your funds quickly.
Personal Information Exposure: Beyond just losing coins, breaches can expose sensitive details. If attackers get hold of your email, phone, or identity documents, you might face phishing attempts or identity theft.
Ripple Effects: Trust and Confidence
Incidents like this shake trust across the crypto world. You might start questioning:
Is my exchange doing enough to keep my assets safe?
Should I move my crypto to a private wallet?
Is this the right time to invest more, or to pull back?
Every time a breach makes headlines, user confidence takes a hit. People may hesitate to trade, withdraw their funds, or even leave the crypto market altogether. This can trigger wider consequences, like price drops or increased volatility.
Exchange Promises vs. Reality
BigONE’s offer to cover losses is reassuring on the surface. But remember:
Promises Don’t Prevent Future Attacks: Covering losses after the fact doesn’t fix security holes. The real question is whether the exchange will improve its defenses or simply wait for the next incident.
Vulnerabilities Run Deep: Crypto exchanges are complex. Hackers are constantly probing for weak spots. One successful attack often reveals overlooked security gaps.
Why Security Tools Matter
Staying vigilant is key. Tools like Cloaked are designed to help protect your personal data online. If you use exchanges, privacy tools can help mask your identity and keep your information out of the wrong hands—making it harder for attackers to target you directly.
The bottom line: Yes, breaches should concern you. Even with financial guarantees, your trust, your data, and your peace of mind are on the line. Take each breach as a wake-up call to review your own security habits and demand more from the platforms you use.
What Should Be Your Next Steps?
A crypto wallet breach can leave you feeling exposed and anxious. Acting quickly and methodically is key to keeping your assets and personal information safe. Here’s what you should do right away:
1. Secure Your Wallets
Transfer Funds Immediately: If you suspect your wallet is compromised, move your remaining assets to a new wallet with fresh private keys. Don’t reuse passwords or seed phrases.
Update All Credentials: Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on every account connected to your crypto holdings.
Revoke Unauthorized Access: Use wallet tools to disconnect suspicious devices or apps with access permissions.
2. Monitor for Unusual Activity
Check Transaction History: Keep an eye on your wallet and exchange accounts for any unauthorized transfers or logins.
Set Up Alerts: Use exchange or wallet features to notify you of large withdrawals or logins from new locations.
Watch for Phishing Attempts: Be extra cautious with emails, DMs, or texts asking for sensitive details. Scammers often strike right after a breach.
3. Enhance Your Security
Use Hardware Wallets: Storing crypto offline is still the gold standard for security.
Employ Privacy Tools: Services like Cloaked can help mask your private data and reduce exposure, making it tougher for hackers to target your identity.
Regularly Update Software: Keep your wallet apps and device OS up to date. Outdated software is a common entry point for attackers.
4. Stay Informed
Follow Exchange Updates: Keep tabs on official statements from your exchange (like BigONE) for security bulletins and breach details.
Review Security Features: Learn about new measures your exchange has implemented post-breach—BigONE, for example, has stepped up real-time monitoring and user verification after their recent incident.
Educate Yourself: The crypto world moves fast. Read up on best practices, join user forums, and don’t fall for “it won’t happen to me” thinking.
5. Consider Professional Help
Contact Support Immediately: Reach out to your exchange’s customer support for guidance, especially if you’ve lost access to your account.
Consult Security Experts: If significant funds are at risk, consulting a crypto security specialist might be worth it.
Bouncing back from a wallet breach isn’t about panic—it’s about being prepared, acting fast, and learning from what happened. With the right tools and vigilance, you can protect your assets and restore your peace of mind.
Cloaked FAQs Accordion
Frequently Asked Questions
First, change your passwords—especially if you've reused them across sites. Then enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all key accounts. Review your account and credit activity regularly for any unusual behavior. If suspicious actions surface, consider freezing your credit and alerting your bank. To proactively reduce exposure in the future, tools like Cloaked can mask your personal information before breaches happen.
Cloaked provides you with disposable emails, phone numbers, and payment details, making it harder for bad actors to access your real identity. These tools help you safely sign up for services, communicate, and shop online without putting your core identity at risk.
Commonly targeted data includes full names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, physical addresses, login credentials, and payment info. Tools like Cloaked help shield this information by providing secure, masked alternatives.
Always be skeptical. Malicious links are one of the most common ways hackers infect devices or steal data. Avoid clicking unless you can verify the source. Services like Cloaked can add layers of security so your real contact info isn’t exposed even if you make a mistake.
Using the same contact info across platforms makes it easy for attackers to build a full profile of you. If one platform gets breached, all your accounts can be at risk. That’s why Cloaked allows you to use different, secure contact methods for each service.
At Cloaked, we believe the best way to protect your personal information is to keep it private before it ever gets out. That’s why we help you remove your data from people-search sites that expose your home address, phone number, SSN, and other personal details. And to keep your info private going forward, Cloaked lets you create unique, secure emails and phone numbers with one click - so you sign up for new experiences without giving away your real info. With Cloaked, your privacy isn’t a setting - it’s the default. Take back control of your personal data with thousands of Cloaked users.
*Disclaimer: You agree not to use any aspect of the Cloaked Services for FCRA purposes.
