Several countries investigating Japanese virtual coin heist - cryptocurrency council member

GMO Internet

01/02/2018 08:50

TOKYO, Feb 1 (Reuters) - Authorities in several countries 
are investigating last week's $530 million heist involving the 
NEM cryptocurrency, a member of the foundation behind the 
digital coin said on Thursday. 
    Takao Asayama, who is a member of the Singapore-based NEM 
Foundation that is behind the cryptocurrency, told reporters in 
Tokyo that it is working with exchanges to block the hackers 
from cashing out the stolen cryptocurrency. He did not name the 
countries involved in investigations. 
    Earlier this week, Japanese authorities said they would 
investigate all cryptocurrency exchanges in the country for 
security gaps and ordered Tokyo-based Coincheck to raise its 
standards after hackers stole $530 million of digital money from 
the exchange.  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N1PO1I1 
    He said the foundation confirmed the transfer of some of the 
stolen coins to two exchanges, adding that it appeared the 
purpose of the transactions was to test the tracking system 
rather than moving the coins. 
 
 (Reporting by Takahiko Wada; Writing by Taiga Uranaka; Editing 
by Malcolm Foster and Sam Holmes) 
 ((taiga.uranaka@thomsonreuters.com; +81-3-6441-1813; Reuters 
Messaging:  taiga.uranaka.reuters.com@reuters.net)) 
 
Keywords: JAPAN CRYPTOCURRENCY/