Hackers Demand $3M Ransom from Revolut After Cryptocurrency Customer Data Breach

Revolut, Europe's largest financial technology company, is facing a reported $3m ransom demand after hackers posing as government officials accessed the data of hundreds of its cryptocurrency customers.

The breach only affected about 680 out of Revolut's 80 million global customers, but those targeted are suspected to have cryptocurrency holdings.

One of the alleged hackers has threatened to publish customer data unless a $3m ransom is paid, according to the Financial Times. However, a Revolut spokesperson denied receiving any direct contact or demand from the individuals making these claims.

Mark Karpelès, a former chief executive of failed Bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox and one of the victims of the data breach, expressed concern for his family's safety and contacted law enforcement in Tokyo after saying he feared being kidnapped or harmed by the time Revolut gave him more information about the breach.

Karpelès said that hackers may have mistakenly targeted his account thinking he was wealthier than he actually is. He believes Revolut should share more information about the breach, which could be damaging to the bank's reputation due to its customer base being typically privacy-sensitive.