Mercado Bitcoin to reopen accounts Monday, pledges company cash for $46M hack

Mercado Bitcoin will begin restoring customer account access Monday, days after a security breach drained more than $46 million in assets. Users will get back in through the exchange's website first, where they can view balances, statements, holdings and investments. Transfers, withdrawals and trading stay parked until they clear independent security testing in later phases.

The Brazilian exchange told Cointelegraph it will use its own money to replenish what customers lost. It said more than $15 million of the stolen funds has already been frozen with help from the wider industry. The company's trading desk, it added, is prepping the repurchases needed across domestic and international markets.

The breach came to light Monday, when attackers moved funds out of the exchange's hot wallets and customer deposit addresses using standard transfers. Blockchain analysts put the stolen haul at more than $46 million.

On the liquidity question, Mercado Bitcoin said its cash position is strong, backed in part by a $20 million investment from stablecoin issuer Tether meant to fuel operational expansion.

So the comeback is staged: eyes on accounts now, hands off wallets a little longer. Security checks come next, then trading and withdrawals. Until then, customers can watch their balances but can't move them.