BigONE Supply Chain Attack Drains $27 million and Sparks Race for Blockchain Security Talent

On 16 July 2025, Seychelles-based crypto exchange BigONE disclosed a sophisticated supply chain assault that siphoned $27 million in digital assets from its hot wallets. The breach, which sidestepped private-key theft, exploited back-end infrastructure and sent shockwaves through the centralised exchange (CEX) sector. As victims await clarity on fund recovery, the incident also underscores soaring demand for specialised crypto talent—from blockchain recruiters to web3 headhunters charged with safeguarding exchanges against emerging threats.

Summary of the $27 Million BigONE Breach

BigONE’s early-morning alert revealed “abnormal movements” in platform assets. Internal investigation confirmed a third-party attack on its hot wallet systems. Unmoved by private-key compromise, the hackers manipulated internal accounting logic to unlock unauthorised withdrawals. BigONE swiftly contained the intrusion, reassured users that keys remained secure and reactivated deposits and trading within days.

Attack Vector: Crypto Supply Chain Infiltration

Unlike many 2025 exploits that targeted private keys or smart-contract flaws, this hack leveraged a supply chain weakness. According to bug bounty platform HackenProof, cybercriminals:

Deployed social engineering to compromise a critical developer’s workstation
Gained elevated permissions in the exchange’s production network
Injected malicious code into continuous integration (CI) pipelines
Altered risk management and accounting service logic

Thanks to this blend of tactics—social engineering, code injection and infrastructure abuse—the attackers bypassed perimeter defences and executed fund withdrawals without tripping standard security alarms.

Asset Drain: What Was Stolen?

On-chain analysis confirms the following assets were drained in a matter of minutes:

121 Bitcoin (BTC)
350 Ether (ETH)
9.69 billion Shiba Inu (SHIB)
538,000 Dogecoin (DOGE)
Multiple stablecoins including USDT and USDC

Subsequent “cleanup” transfers of ~102,000 USDC and ~79,000 USDT hinted at meticulous planning. BigONE has declared coverage of customer losses via its insurance reserve and launched an $8 million bounty for intelligence leading to fund recovery.

Behind the Lines: Infrastructure vs. Key Compromise

Traditional CEX hacks often revolve around stolen private keys or flawed smart contracts. In contrast, supply chain assaults highlight the risk of compromising trusted internal systems. Key differences include:

Internal Code Injection – Malicious scripts alter core services rather than targeting blockchain signatures.
Undetected by Hot Wallet Monitors – Funds moved under the guise of legitimate internal API calls.
Single Point of Failure – A developer’s credentials unlocked system-wide access.

For exchange operators and blockchain headhunters, this breach emphasises the need for specialists in CI/CD pipeline security, zero-trust architectures, and continuous code auditing—skills in high demand across the web3 recruitment landscape.

Tracing the Trail: Forensic Pursuit by SlowMist and Partners

Blockchain security firm SlowMist took the lead in tracing stolen funds, publishing the attacker’s Ethereum and BNB Chain addresses. On-chain investigator Lookonchain reported that the perpetrators layered assets through Tron, Solana, Ethereum and Bitcoin networks to obfuscate their trail.

Key steps in the forensic effort include:

Address tagging and cluster analysis
Exchange intelligence requests to freeze suspect funds
Technical analysis of cross-chain bridges used for laundering
Coordination with law enforcement jurisdictions

Despite proactive measures, the ultimate destination of many assets remains uncertain. The incident has reignited debate on exchange custody models versus self-custody, as chronicled in our coverage of 2024’s record-breaking crypto heists and the mid-year theft surge.

Recruiting the Defence: Demand for Blockchain Security Professionals

As threat actors refine multi-vector campaigns—combining deepfakes, UI spoofing and malicious contract deployment—the industry scramble for talent intensifies. Centralised exchanges are now prioritising hires in:

CI/CD security engineers
Supply chain vulnerability analysts
Incident response coordinators
Blockchain penetration testers

This surge follows a stark year of losses. With $2.5 billion stolen in H1 2025—already surpassing all of 2024—organisations are turning to crypto recruitment agencies to source elite security experts. Roles are being filled by web3 recruiters, crypto headhunters and specialised defi recruiters, who navigate a competitive market for niche blockchain talent.

Our report on DeFi security jobs and blockchain’s growth explosion explores how firms are adjusting compensation and benefits to win over scarce candidates.

Lessons Learned: Strengthening Supply Chain Defences

The BigONE hack spotlights a shift in attacker methodology. Exchange operators and cryptocurrency recruiters must prioritise roles that bridge development and security functions:

DevSecOps Specialists – Embedding security into CI/CD pipelines.
Infrastructure Auditors – Conducting continuous vulnerability assessments.
Red Team Engineers – Simulating supply chain compromise scenarios.

In parallel, multi-tiered fund segregation—hot, warm and cold wallets—remains essential. Insurance reserves, like BigONE’s, and third-party audit certifications help restore user confidence when breaches occur.

For firms looking to bolster teams, partnering with a blockchain recruitment agency or web3 recruitment agency can accelerate the search for candidates who possess the rare blend of developer fluency and security acumen. Whether it’s a web3 headhunter in London or a crypto recruiter placing experts in Singapore, the global chase for defence talent is relentless.

Ongoing Implications for Crypto Recruitment

With each major incident, the talent market recalibrates. Hiring managers are adjusting job specs and headcounts for roles that did not exist two years ago. In the aftermath of the BigONE breach:

Budgets for security teams have increased by 40–60%
Defi recruitment efforts target cross-chain expertise
Hybrid roles combining compliance, on-chain forensics and SIEM experience are in vogue

As the industry digests fresh attack vectors, the reliance on dedicated recruitment partners—specialising in web3 talent acquisition—will only grow. Spectrum Search continues to match pioneering organisations with professionals who can fortify CEX infrastructures against an ever-evolving threat landscape.