New Zealand police have announced that they are almost done with their investigation of Cryptopia, a digital asset exchange. One estimate suggests that as many as $16million worth of crypto was stolen by the crypto trading platform.
Management is granted access to their offices
According to law enforcement officials Cryptopia can now reopen anytime. “We have completed the major portion of the work required to Cryptopia’s business premises by the High Tech Crime Group. However, HTCG staff are still there finishing up aspects,” Greg Murton, detective inspector, was quoted in The New Zealand Herald.
Hacked NZ Exchange Cryptopia Permitted to Reopen
Murton noted that Cryptopia’s management has been allowed full access to their premises and facilities. He stressed that the “investigation does not prevent their business from getting back up and running again.” However, the inspector declined to say when they might file charges.
Greg Murton has refused to disclose the exact amount of cryptocurrency that was allegedly stolen during the heist. Elementus data company experts believe that the digital coins, which include ethereum as well as ERC20 tokens are worth approximately $23 million NZD (almost $1.6 million). This figure is significantly higher than initial estimates after the hack was announced in mid January. Learn more about Block change group
Police Say Cryptopia Helps with the Investigation
A report at the end of October suggested that the attack continued long after investigators reached the Christchurch-based exchange. Murton, however, refused to discuss these claims or the possibility that some of the stolen funds may have been frozen.
Hacked NZ Exchange Cryptopia Permitted to Reopen
Police officers noted that staff members were cooperating with law-enforcement and other government agencies, such as the High Tech Crimes Unit. The director of Cryptopia, Pete Dawson, was quoted as saying that the information concerning cryptocurrency transfers was misinterpreted. He did not specify how much digital cash was missing.
The local newspaper asked Cryptopia founders Adam Clarket Rob Dawson if they could give a time frame for the exchange’s resumption. Its website still contains the original announcement concerning the security breach which resulted “significant losses” and a link to a press release from New Zealand police.