Blockstream says it will not pay ransom for stolen Liquid Bitcoin

Blockstream has refused to pay a ransom for roughly 598.5 BTC that remains under the control of the actors behind the Liquid Network exploit after 3,400 BTC was returned earlier this week. Summary Blockstream has refused to pay a ransom for Bitcoin still held by the actors behind the Liquid Network exploit. The actors previously returned 3,400 BTC after nearly 4,000 BTC was withdrawn from Liquid’s federation wallet. Blockstream rejected the actors’ white hat position and said taking funds without authorization and withholding their return amounts to theft. The company said it will work with law enforcement, exchanges, forensic specialists and service providers to trace and recover the remaining Bitcoin. Blockstream said in an X post on Sept. 11 that taking assets without authorization and withholding their return amounts to theft, rejecting the actors’ description of their actions as responsible disclosure or white-hat activity. “We will not pay a ransom for the return of stolen funds,” the company said. “Taking assets without authorization and withholding their return is a crime, not responsible disclosure. It is not white-hat activity. It is theft.” The statement follows several ...