Crypto Weekly: A hackers paradise

Crypto Weekly: A hackers paradise

Mads Eberhardt

Cryptocurrency Analyst

Summary:  Another hacker was active this week hacking a Japanese exchange for more than $90mn worth of cryptocurrencies. Meanwhile, the US State Department started to offer rewards paid in cryptocurrencies for information about hackers targeting US infrastructure. Lastly, Robinhood got increasingly dependent on cryptocurrency trading in Q2 to generate revenue.


Hack costs Liquid Global more than $90mn

The Japanese exchange Liquid Global suffered a major hack last week, where hackers stole more than $90mn worth of crypto-assets. The incident comes the week after the blockchain interoperability protocol called Poly Network was hacked, letting the hacker run away with $610mn before choosing to return the assets to the protocol. In contrast to the Poly hack, the funds stolen from the Liquid exchange have not been returned yet. According to on-chain analysis company Elliptic, the hacker used decentralized exchanges shortly after the hack to convert Ethereum tokens into Ether to avoid having the tokens frozen, which happened for the Poly hackers. Following that move, the hacker used an Ethereum mixer called Tornado Cash to obscure the blockchain pathway of the funds. This makes it fundamentally more challenging for prosecutors, brokers, and exchanges to follow the Ether on the blockchain. These moves by the hacker essentially indicate that the person in question has no intention of returning the assets to the exchange. These hacking events are boosting the sentiment for those who have distrust of cryptocurrencies, making notably institutions and regulators cautious.

US State Department offers rewards in cryptocurrencies

Staying within hacking but jumping to the other side of the table, the US State Department is now offering rewards paid in cryptocurrencies for information about hackers targeting US infrastructure and other criminal activities. For many decades, the US government has been paying out rewards in return for information on the grounds of their Rewards for Justice program. After quietly introducing the option to be paid in cryptocurrencies last month, the option was widely announced some weeks ago at the cyber conference Black Hat in Las Vegas, which gathers a substantial number of white hat hackers (hackers with good intentions). The option to be paid in cryptocurrencies comes after several notable hacks explicitly targeted US infrastructure like the colonial gas pipeline earlier this year. The new option indicates that the US State Department assumes they can gather new information from informants who earlier were not willing to hand out information to the US government. This is potentially one of the more concealed ways the US government can benefit from crypto-assets.

41% of Robinhood’s Q2 revenue came from crypto

The US-based stock, options, and cryptocurrency broker Robinhood announced its Q2 2021 result last week. Publicly trading under the ticker HOOD, the broker generated a revenue of $565mn, of which $233mn came from cryptocurrency trading. Most surprisingly, more than 60% of funded Robinhood accounts traded cryptocurrencies during the quarter. In particular, Dogecoin trading was popular among Robinhood traders as 62% of the company’s revenue from cryptocurrency trading came from Dogecoin. These key figures indicate that the company is at present highly dependent on cryptocurrency trading to generate revenue, in particular a meme cryptocurrency like Dogecoin. The company acknowledged this by stating: “If demand for transactions in Dogecoin declines and is not replaced by new demand for other cryptocurrencies available for trading on our platform, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be adversely affected”. For the quarter, Robinhood reported a net loss of $502 million.
Source: Saxo Group
Source: Saxo Group

Quarterly Outlook

01 /

  • Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Quarterly Outlook

    Fixed Income Outlook: Bonds Hit Reset. A New Equilibrium Emerges

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

  • Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equity Outlook: Will lower rates lift all boats in equities?

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    After a period of historically high equity index concentration driven by the 'Magnificent Seven' sto...
  • FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX Outlook: USD in limbo amid political and policy jitters

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    As we enter the final quarter of 2024, currency markets are set for heightened turbulence due to US ...
  • Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro Outlook: The US rate cut cycle has begun

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    The Fed started the US rate cut cycle in Q3 and in this macro outlook we will explore how the rate c...
  • Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodity Outlook: Gold and silver continue to shine bright

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

  • FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Quarterly Outlook

    FX: Risk-on currencies to surge against havens

    Charu Chanana

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the outlook for USD, AUD, NZD, and EM carry trades as risk-on currencies are set to outperfo...
  • Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Quarterly Outlook

    Equities: Are we blowing bubbles again

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore key trends and opportunities in European equities and electrification theme as market dynami...
  • Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Quarterly Outlook

    Macro: Sandcastle economics

    Peter Garnry

    Chief Investment Strategist

    Explore the "two-lane economy," European equities, energy commodities, and the impact of US fiscal p...
  • Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Quarterly Outlook

    Bonds: What to do until inflation stabilises

    Althea Spinozzi

    Head of Fixed Income Strategy

    Discover strategies for managing bonds as US and European yields remain rangebound due to uncertain ...
  • Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Quarterly Outlook

    Commodities: Energy and grains in focus as metals pause

    Ole Hansen

    Head of Commodity Strategy

    Energy and grains to shine as metals pause. Discover key trends and market drivers for commodities i...
Disclaimer

Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Limited prepares and distributes information/research produced within the Saxo Bank Group for informational purposes only. In addition to the disclaimer below, if any general advice is provided, such advice does not take into account your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider the appropriateness of trading any financial instrument as trading can result in losses that exceed your initial investment. Please refer to our Analysis Disclaimer, and our Financial Services Guide and Product Disclosure Statement. All legal documentation and disclaimers can be found at https://www.home.saxo/en-au/legal/.

The Saxo Bank Group entities each provide execution-only service. Access and use of Saxo News & Research and any Saxo Bank Group website are subject to (i) the Terms of Use; (ii) the full Disclaimer; and (iii) the Risk Warning in addition (where relevant) to the terms governing the use of the website of a member of the Saxo Bank Group.

Saxo News & Research is provided for informational purposes, does not contain (and should not be construed as containing) financial, investment, tax or trading advice or advice of any sort offered, recommended or endorsed by Saxo Bank Group and should not be construed as a record of our trading prices, or as an offer, incentive or solicitation for the subscription, sale or purchase in any financial instrument. No representation or warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. All trading or investments you make must be pursuant to your own unprompted and informed self-directed decision. No Saxo Bank Group entity shall be liable for any losses that you may sustain as a result of any investment decision made in reliance on information on Saxo News & Research.

To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, such content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, would be considered as a marketing communication.

None of the information contained here constitutes an offer to purchase or sell a financial instrument, or to make any investments.Saxo Capital Markets does not take into account your personal investment objectives or financial situation and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the information nor for any loss arising from any investment made in reliance of this presentation. Any opinions made are subject to change and may be personal to the author. These may not necessarily reflect the opinion of Saxo Capital Markets or its affiliates.

Please read our disclaimers:
- Full Disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-au/legal/disclaimer/saxo-disclaimer)
- Analysis Disclaimer (https://www.home.saxo/en-au/legal/analysis-disclaimer/saxo-analysis-disclaimer)
- Notification on Non-Independent Investment Research (https://www.home.saxo/legal/niird/notification)

Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Limited
Suite 1, Level 14, 9 Castlereagh St
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Contact Saxo

Select region

Australia
Australia

The Saxo trading platform has received numerous awards and recognition. For details of these awards and information on awards visit www.home.saxo/en-au/about-us/awards

Saxo Capital Markets (Australia) Limited ABN 32 110 128 286 AFSL 280372 (‘Saxo’ or ‘Saxo Capital Markets’) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Saxo Bank A/S, headquartered in Denmark. Please refer to our General Business Terms, Financial Services Guide, Product Disclosure Statement and Target Market Determination to consider whether acquiring or continuing to hold financial products is suitable for you, prior to opening an account and investing in a financial product.

Trading in financial instruments carries various risks, and is not suitable for all investors. Please seek expert advice, and always ensure that you fully understand these risks before trading. Saxo Capital Markets does not provide ‘personal’ financial product advice, any information available on this website is ‘general’ in nature and for informational purposes only. Saxo Capital Markets does not take into account an individual’s needs, objectives or financial situation. The Target Market Determination should assist you in determining whether any of the products or services we offer are likely to be consistent with your objectives, financial situation and needs.

Apple, iPad and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. AppStore is a service mark of Apple Inc.

The information or the products and services referred to on this website may be accessed worldwide, however is only intended for distribution to and use by recipients located in countries where such use does not constitute a violation of applicable legislation or regulations. Products and Services offered on this website is not intended for residents of the United States and Japan.

Please click here to view our full disclaimer.