Mercado Bitcoin, one of Brazil’s top cryptocurrency exchanges, is set to relaunch fiat deposits and withdrawals via the country’s instant payment system, Pix, next week. This decision comes over two weeks after a cyberattack drained approximately $49 million from wallets linked to the exchange.
Phased Return of Fiat Transactions
In the initial phase of the reopening, Mercado Bitcoin will focus on fiat currency transactions. Users will only be able to withdraw to accounts registered under their own names. Additionally, the exchange plans to credit customer accounts with balances from redeemed fixed-income products.
A company representative stated that the reopening would proceed in stages, with additional services being activated and announced via MB’s official channels in advance.
As for cryptocurrency deposits and withdrawals, these services remain unavailable without a specified timeline for their resumption.
Access Restored, Albeit Limited
A week after the attack, partial account access was reinstated on Monday. Users can presently view their accounts but not perform transactions. Those granted access are directed to a page detailing the company’s security measures and regular audits conducted since 2018.
The page also includes a separate link for further information about the incident. Fabricio Tota, Vice President of New Business, outlined the next steps of the process in a recent video, although a detailed timetable has yet to be published on the company’s website.
For users keen on tracking developments like the reopening of the Pix line, platforms like CryptoAppsy offer real-time updates and cryptocurrency-specific news feeds. This tool could simplify monitoring the rollout of services in tandem with Mercado Bitcoin’s official announcements.
Cautious Path to Normalization Following Breach
The attack that occurred on November 2 resulted in a significant financial drain from Mercado Bitcoin-associated wallets. The company’s recent steps illustrate not a full restoration, but a controlled reactivation of operations.
In his latest video, Fabricio Tota highlighted that the forthcoming services would be systematically and transparently reintroduced.
This incident took place amid a spate of security breaches in the cryptocurrency industry. Several major platforms experienced similar attacks around the same time, prompting exchanges to implement stricter controls over user access and financial transactions.
Mercado Bitcoin’s current focus is securing the safe restart of local currency operations. The status of cryptocurrency transfers, however, remains uncertain.
