Blockstream Refuses Ransom Demand for Stolen 598.5 BTC

Blockstream has refused to pay a ransom to hackers who still hold approximately 598.5 BTC from the Liquid Network exploit.

The incident occurred on September 6, 2026, when nearly 4,000 BTC was withdrawn from Liquid's federation wallet by actors claiming to be 'whitehats.'

Around 3,400 BTC was returned after Blockstream patched the vulnerability, leaving around 598.5 BTC still held by hackers.

The company has stated that it will not pay a ransom and instead plans to work with law enforcement, exchanges, and forensic specialists to trace and recover the remaining Bitcoin.

In a statement on X, Blockstream said, 'Taking assets without authorization and withholding their return is a crime, not responsible disclosure. It is not white-hat activity. It is theft.'