E110: Bybit Founder: How I Survived The Biggest Crypto Theft Of All Time
Feb 26, 2025
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Join Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit, one of the world's largest crypto exchanges, as he recounts his experience navigating a staggering $1.5 billion Ethereum hack. Hear about his rapid crisis response, featuring 350,000 withdrawals processed seamlessly, and the emphasis on client trust through transparent communication. Ben discusses the vital importance of self-custody for asset protection and introduces HackBounty.com, a platform aimed at improving accountability in crypto theft recovery. Tune in for crucial insights on crisis management in the ever-evolving crypto landscape.
The CEO's immediate crisis response ensured the safety of client funds, allowing the company to cover the $1.5 billion loss from reserves.
Transparency in communication was prioritized as the CEO directly addressed the community to build trust during the crisis.
The establishment of HackBounty.com aims to enhance recovery efforts for victims of crypto hacks by fostering community engagement and transparency.
Deep dives
Major Security Breach and Immediate Response
The CEO discusses a significant security breach where the company lost approximately 400,000 Ethereum, equating to a staggering $1.5 billion. Upon receiving the devastating news from the CFO, he quickly transitioned from panic to action by assessing the situation and confirming the integrity of other wallets. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the safety of client funds and confirmed that the company could cover the loss with its own reserves. This swift decision to ensure clients' money was safe played a crucial role in gaining and maintaining user trust during a crisis.
Crisis Management and Communication Strategy
The CEO highlights the importance of transparency during a crisis, stating that he took charge of communications instead of delegating to a PR team. His strategy involved directly addressing the community through live streams and social media, which helped quell fears and rumors about the company’s stability. He emphasized that by showing his face and communicating openly, he could build a direct line of trust with clients amid panic. His approach demonstrated the effectiveness of leadership and accountability at critical moments when the company was under pressure.
Team Efficiency and Operational Priorities
The efficiency of the team was critical in handling the crisis effectively, managing to process over $4 billion in withdrawals in a remarkably short time frame. The CEO revealed that the company had established detailed procedures for emergency situations that allowed it to tackle the massive demands quickly. Through rigorous internal training and a proactive approach to potential threats, the team managed to maintain operational integrity despite the chaos. This level of preparedness not only mitigated immediate adverse outcomes but also illustrated the strength and resilience of the organization.
Building Better Security Protocols
Following the crisis, the CEO expressed regrets about not having a more robust in-house security system for the Ethereum wallet, pointing out the need to learn from this experience. He highlighted that the use of third-party solutions may have contributed to the vulnerability, prompting discussions about transitioning to more secure, internal practices. The importance of diversifying asset storage to reduce potential losses from a single breach was also emphasized. The future plans include bolstering wallet security and developing a more comprehensive incident response strategy.
Creating the HackBounty Initiative
To combat future hacking incidents, the CEO introduced a new platform called HackBounty.com, which aims to assist victims in recovering stolen funds. This initiative will allow users to act as bounty hunters by tracking stolen assets and reporting their findings. The platform's goal is to create a transparent ecosystem where information about hackers and stolen funds is readily accessible, thereby increasing the likelihood of recovery. By leveraging community engagement and transparency, the CEO believes this project can lead to better outcomes for victims of crypto hacks, improving trust and safety in the industry.
In this episode, I sit down with Ben, CEO of Bybit, just days after the exchange suffered a $1.5 billion Ethereum hack. Ben provides a detailed breakdown of their 72-hour crisis response, revealing how they managed 350,000 withdrawals without halting operations, all while securing replacement funds.PARTNERS💳 Trezor is the safest cold storage wallets for crypto security and financial independence.Buy your Trezor Wallet (use PROMO Code from the video for a 10% discount): https://trezor.io/?transaction_id=1026f18ed46409e495c6db4bff90ab&offer_id=133&affiliate_id=35356🚀 Jupiter is the most used Decentralized Exchange in Crypto and the largest DEX by volume on Solana.https://jup.ag/🌱 Bitwise Asset Management is the crypto specialist asset manager with more than $10 billion client assets and more than 30 crypto solutions across ETFs, index funds, alpha strategies, staking, and more.💧Sui is a first-of-its-kind Layer 1 blockchain and smart contract platform designed to make digital asset ownership fast, private, secure, and accessible.https://sui.io/🤖 SwissBorg is Europe’s top trusted crypto app offering user-centric investment platforms and DeFi asset management with reliability and innovation.Sign up with this link and earn up to €100 : https://join.swissborg.com/r/kevinH6E7♾ Coinsilium provides vital funding and expert advice to Web3 and AI-powered early-stage technology companies. https://www.coinsilium.com🔘 Mantle Network enhances dApp development with Ethereum's security, low fees, and quick transactions through innovative layer-2 technology. Users can stake ETH for mETH, contributing to a transparent, community-driven ecosystem governed by $MNT token holders, fostering innovation and collaboration.https://www.mantle.xyzFOLLOW BEN ZHOU & BYBIT• Twitter: https://twitter.com/benbybit• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-zhou-b979ba28• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benbybit• Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bybit_Official• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bybit_official/FOLLOW KEVIN & WHEN SHIFT HAPPENS👇Twitter (X): https://x.com/KevinWSHPod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kevinwshpod/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kevinfollonier_Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinfollonier/Website: https://www.podpage.com/when-shift-happens/DISCLAIMERThe info contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial, legal, or tax advice. The content of this video is solely the opinions of the speakers who are not a licensed financial advisor or registered investment advisor. Trading cryptocurrencies poses considerable risk of loss. The speakers do not guarantee any particular outcome.0:00 Trailer1:35 Please Subscribe2:00 Jupiter Sponsorship2:08 Bitwise Sponsorship2:21 Sui Sponsorship2:32 Mantle Sponsorship2:46 Bouncing Back in Three Days4:50 The Fastest Crypto Comeback6:58 The Secret to Laser Focus7:56 How to Handle a $1.5B Hack15:21 Trezor Sponsorship16:13 How to Handle a $1.5B Hack16:35 Judgment vs. Procedure: Making the Right Call18:33 Why I Don’t Feel Stress21:47 Handling PR in a Crisis25:13 Ethereum Shortage: Restoring Stability29:12 What’s a Great Leader?33:14 The Only Thing That Stresses Me34:48 Biggest Fear: Not Knowing My Limits35:50 The Only Time I Stop36:25 Most Stressful Moment37:44 The Next Steps After a Crisis41:01 How Long to Rebuild?41:46 Buying Back 400,000 ETH43:45 Why Cutting Corners Kills Companies47:53 Investing in a World-Class Team52:06 Why Bybit Never Launched a Token55:04 Rebuilding Trust After a Crisis56:31 Lessons in Crypto Wallet Security58:45 The Future of Crypto Self-Custody1:05:03 ETFs vs. Exchanges: Security Risks1:07:13 Bybit’s Assets Before & After Hack1:08:50 The Future Is On-Chain1:11:03 Crypto’s Image Problem1:13:32 Key Lessons and Unexpected Regrets1:17:21 Message to Future Entrepreneurs1:18:18 Why Crypto Hackers Keep Winning1:22:04 Hackbounty
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