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Hackers Behind AscendEX Breach Move $1.5M Ether to Uniswap

Security research firm PeckShield points to on-chain data that shows 516 ether is on the move

Updated May 9, 2023, 3:38 a.m. Published Feb 18, 2022, 10:26 a.m.
(Natasa Adzic/Shutterstock)
(Natasa Adzic/Shutterstock)

Funds stolen during December’s hack of AscendEX have begun moving to decentralized exchange Uniswap, according to on-chain data first spotted by security research house PeckShield.

  • In December, hackers stole $77 million from AscendEX, mostly in ether, Binance Smart Chain's token and MATIC.
  • So far 516 ether , worth around $1.5 million, have been sent to Uniswap.
  • Until recently, the funds have stayed largely dormant, before beginning to move early Friday morning U.S. time.
  • While many high-profile hacks have seen the funds being sent through a mixer protocol like Tornado Cash, sending the tokens to Uniswap would largely have the same effect.
  • Uniswap doesn’t have a know-your-customer mechanism, thus tokens that go in would be mixed around with other tokens making them “clean” to the outside observer.

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KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

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KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

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How the ultra-wealthy are using bitcoin to fund their yacht upgrades and Cannes trips

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Cometh founder Jerome de Tychey is applying DeFi lending and borrowing on platforms like Aave, Morpho, and Uniswap to structures that help the ultra-wealthy secure loans against their massive crypto fortunes.

What to know:

  • Wealthy investors who hold much of their fortune in crypto are increasingly turning to decentralized finance platforms to secure flexible credit lines without selling their digital assets.
  • Firms like Cometh help family offices and other rich clients navigate complex DeFi tools, using assets such as bitcoin, ether and stablecoins to replicate traditional Lombard-style collateralized loans.
  • DeFi loans can be faster and more anonymous than traditional bank credit but carry volatility and liquidation risks, and Cometh is also experimenting with applying DeFi strategies to traditional securities via ISIN-based tokenization.