Coinbase Says Workers Were Bribed in Massive Data Theft Attempt - 1

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Coinbase Says Workers Were Bribed in Massive Data Theft Attempt

  • Written by Kiara Fabbri Former Tech News Writer
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

Coinbase says hackers bribed overseas workers to steal user data and demand $20M. It’s now offering a bounty instead of paying up.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • Hackers bribed overseas Coinbase staff to steal customer data.
  • Coinbase refused to pay the $20 million ransom demand.
  • Less than 1% of monthly users were affected.

Coinbase, the largest U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, said hackers bribed customer support agents outside the U.S. to steal sensitive customer data, and then demanded $20 million in Bitcoin to keep the breach quiet.

The company revealed through its Thursday announcement that the breach affected fewer than 1% of its active users each month. The stolen data included names, addresses, phone numbers, partial Social Security numbers, bank details, and government ID images. However, login credentials and access to wallets were not compromised, Coinbase said.

Bloomberg reported that the hackers planned to use the stolen data to impersonate Coinbase and trick users into handing over their crypto. The cyber criminals bribed and recruited some of Coinbase’s support agents and contractors outside the U.S. Those workers have been fired.

Bloomberg reported that Coinbase announced it will not give in to the ransom demand while simultaneously reaching out to law enforcement agencies. The company provides a $20 million reward to anyone who helps track down and prosecute the attackers.

Bloomberg reported that remediation costs and reimbursements could reach between $180 million and $400 million but the actual amount may shift based on ongoing investigations. The company has made a promise to reimburse all users who experienced financial losses because of the breach.

CEO Brian Armstrong revealed through video that Coinbase had detected unusual support agent behavior throughout the preceding months leading up to the attack.

Forbes notes that the breach occurred during a period when crypto security has become a major point of concern. Research indicates that the crypto industry lost more than $2.2 billion to cyberattacks throughout 2024.

YouTube Launches AI Feature To Place Ads When Users Are Most Engaged - 2

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YouTube Launches AI Feature To Place Ads When Users Are Most Engaged

  • Written by Andrea Miliani Former Tech News Expert
  • Fact-Checked by Sarah Frazier Former Content Manager

YouTube announced on Wednesday a new product called Peak Point, designed to identify meaningful moments in videos for ad placement. Powered by Google’s AI model Gemini, the tool will allow advertisers to display ads when users are most engaged.

In a rush? Here are the quick facts:

  • YouTube has announced a new AI-powered feature called “Peak Points”, which identifies the most engaging parts of a video for ad placement.
  • Advertisers will benefit from Gemini’s intelligence to promote their products more effectively on the platform.
  • Experts believe the initiative could potentially frustrate viewers.

The feature was introduced at Brandcast, an event celebrating YouTube’s 20th birthday in New York, along with several other announcements about changes to the platform.

“We also announced Peak Points, built with Google AI. This all-new product uses Gemini to identify the most meaningful or ‘peak’ moments within YouTube’s popular content, placing your brand where audiences are the most engaged,” states the event summary .

According to CNBC , the new AI feature analyzes transcripts, frames, and other elements in a video to identify critical moments and periods of high viewer attention for ad placement. Developers expect Peak Point to deliver more clicks and conversions for advertisers’ promotional videos.

A few users and experts have already shared thoughts on the feature. “Viewers may find these interruptions frustrating, especially when they’re deeply engaged in the emotional arc of a video and want the ad to be over quickly to resume watching,” wrote TechCrunch .

YouTube is introducing “Peak Points,” a new ad format that uses AI to find the most engaging or emotional moments in videos and places ads immediately after them. The aim is to catch viewers’ attention when they are most invested, benefiting advertisers. However, this approach… pic.twitter.com/302uUNUcXU — Marius Fanu (@mariusfanu) May 15, 2025

Users on Reddit said they have already noticed this feature, and many find it annoying. “YouTube has been doing this already for months if not years,” wrote one Redditor. “It’s already on the brink of being unwatchable,” added another.

YouTube also introduced another advertising feature called Shoppable CTV, which allows users to browse and buy products in a video from the TV.

AI has been playing an important role in the video platform. A few months ago, YouTube invited content creators to opt into their AI training program.