Relay's Binance Hack-Fund Blockade Snags Bridge Transactions

Relay Protocol said on Nov. 2 that its push to block funds stolen in the Binance hack is causing pauses or delays on some transactions and routes. The cross-chain bridge is using layered risk and compliance screening to freeze addresses tied to the hacker, according to an update on its verified X account. Relay said it is working with Binance, law enforcement and security teams, and told users no action is needed on their part.

The bridge did not name the affected chains or asset pairs, and it gave no timetable for lifting the restrictions. It pointed users to its status page for updates. When checked, that page displayed “We’re fully operational” without identifying any restricted routes.

The intervention follows a Nov. 1 report from onchain investigator Lookonchain, covered earlier by The Defiant. Lookonchain said a Binance-hack wallet moved 486,970 SOL, worth about $46.4 million, in the preceding hour. The wallet was swapping SOL for bitcoin through Relay.

The FBI attributed the Oct. 29 theft of more than $6 billion to North Korea’s TraderTraitor activity. The agency urged crypto businesses and infrastructure operators to block transactions involving the listed addresses or funds derived from them.

Relay said its collaboration with Binance, law enforcement and security teams is ongoing and limits what it can disclose. “We’ll share more as soon as we can,” the bridge said. It did not specify which routes remain affected.