FBI Arrests Hacker Linked to January 2024 SEC Breach That Boosted Bitcoin Price by $1,000

On October 17, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) apprehended an individual from Alabama in connection with a significant 2024 hacking incident targeting the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This breach disrupted the SEC’s official social media presence, leading to the unauthorized dissemination of misleading information regarding the approval of a Bitcoin ETF. This false narrative momentarily inflated the value of Bitcoin (BTC) by $1,000. An SEC spokesperson clarified to The Guardian that the misleading posts shared from the @SECGov handle were “not drafted or created by the SEC,” underscoring the severity of security vulnerabilities within regulatory bodies. This incident highlights the potential for hacking to influence financial markets, raising concerns about the integrity and security of digital assets.