Hackers Breach SEC Account, Falsely Announce Bitcoin ETF Approval

On January 9, the account of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was compromised by unidentified hackers who posted a fraudulent announcement about the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF. The SEC Chair, Gary Gensler, quickly refuted this false claim, emphasizing that no such ETF had been authorized. This incident is part of a pattern where hackers have misled cryptocurrency enthusiasts and the general public, especially during heightened anticipation for such financial products. Previously, in December, a phony XRP ETF registration occurred in Delaware, falsely implying BlackRock’s involvement. Although BlackRock swiftly denied these claims, the misinformation briefly caused a 12% surge in XRP’s price within half an hour. The bogus news about the Bitcoin ETF’s approval attracted millions of views shortly after being published, leading to a 3% drop in Bitcoin’s value.

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