US crypto exchange confirms data breach affecting customer banking information
Gemini, a leading cryptocurrency exchange, has informed its customers about a recent data breach involving one of its third-party ACH banking partners. The breach, which occurred between June 3 and June 7, 2024, potentially exposed certain banking information of a subset of Gemini's customers. The incident has raised concerns about the security of financial data handled by external partners.
Incident Details
According to Gemini, the breach occurred when an unauthorized actor accessed an internal collaboration tool on the banking partner's system. This unauthorized access may have led to the disclosure of specific transactional data, including customers' names, bank account numbers, and routing numbers.
However, the crypto exchange company has said other sensitive information, such as dates of birth, addresses, social security numbers, email addresses, phone numbers, usernames, and passwords, were not affected. Also, Gemini's systems and account information were not compromised in this incident.
Response and Measures Taken
Upon discovering the breach, the banking partner launched an immediate investigation and implemented measures to contain the incident. The partner also enlisted outside forensic experts to assist in the investigation, which remains ongoing. Law enforcement agencies have been notified and are involved in the response.
Customer Guidance
Gemini has advised affected customers to take several precautionary steps to protect their accounts. These include:
Contact their banks to discuss possible protective measures, such as obtaining new account numbers
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on the affected accounts
Closely monitor account statements for unauthorized transactions
Watch out for targeted scams leveraging leaked information
Gemini has committed to providing updates and relevant information to its customers as the investigation progresses. The company has also urged customers with questions or concerns to contact their support team for further assistance.
