Coinbase accused of withholding $55 million in stolen cryptocurrency after major DeFi hack
13.05.2026
Coinbase, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has become the target of a lawsuit after allegations of withholding $55 million in cryptocurrency assets related to the recent massive hack of its decentralized finance (DeFi) platform. According to official sources, affected investors claim that the stolen tokens were transferred to Coinbase accounts, after which the exchange froze the funds but refused to return them to their rightful owners.The lawsuit was filed in U.S. federal court and underscores the growing focus on the responsibility of centralized platforms to store and handle funds from hacking attacks. Representatives of the plaintiffs note that Coinbase, despite internal anti-money laundering protocols, has not provided a transparent procedure for asset recovery. According to the attorneys' statement, the total amount of damage from the DeFi hack exceeded $150 million, of which $55 million was identified on Coinbase wallets.The exchange says it is acting within the law and cooperating with law enforcement agencies. However, the situation raises concerns among market participants, as it reinforces doubts about the safety of storing funds on centralized platforms. With attacks on the DeFi sector continuing to grow - over $2 billion in stolen funds in the industry last year alone - experts are calling for tighter regulation and new transparency standards.The trial is expected to set an important precedent for the entire crypto industry and define further standards of interaction between exchanges, users and law enforcement agencies in investigating cybercrime.