23.06.2025 07:13

A surge in phishing attacks targeting cryptocurrency information websites has prompted a stern warning from Changpeng Zhao, CEO of Binance. Zhao, in a recent X post, highlighted the escalating threat, emphasizing the critical need for users to exercise extreme caution when authorizing wallet connections on such platforms.

This warning follows two high-profile incidents. First, CoinMarketCap, a popular cryptocurrency price tracking website, suffered a breach two days prior to a similar attack on Cointelegraph, a prominent cryptocurrency news outlet. Preliminary blockchain analysis of the CoinMarketCap breach revealed 39 victims experiencing a combined loss of $18,570; however, the platform has pledged to reimburse all affected users.

Cointelegraph's compromise involved a sophisticated front-end exploit, deploying a deceptive pop-up advertisement promising lucrative “CoinTelegraph ICO Airdrops” and “CTG tokens” valued at almost $5,500. To enhance its plausibility, the malicious pop-up even falsely referenced a “fair launch” and a fraudulent CertiK audit, hallmarks of legitimacy often sought by investors. The platform swiftly responded to the incident, issuing a public alert on X cautioning users against clicking the pop-up, connecting their wallets, or divulging any personal information while urgently working to rectify the security vulnerability.

These recent events underscore the growing sophistication of phishing scams and the critical importance of vigilance within the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Users are advised to remain highly skeptical of unsolicited offers, verify the authenticity of websites before connecting wallets, and promptly report any suspicious activity to the relevant platforms and authorities. The widespread nature of these attacks originating from internet sources serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges faced by the cryptocurrency industry and its users.