Bitfinex Cryptocurrency Linked to 2016 Hack Surges 59% After Fund Recovery
- Bitfinex parent promised to use proceeds to burn some tokens
- Leo was issued in 2019 to beef up Bitfinex’s coffers
The cryptocurrency known as Unus Sed Leo, which was issued in part to recapitalize the Bitfinex exchange following a 2016 hack, surged more than 50% after the U.S. announced that most of the stolen funds were recovered.
The firm iFinex, which operates Bitfinex and is affiliated with the Tether stablecoin, issued Leo in 2019 to beef up its coffers after a series of blows, including the hack in which it lost Bitcoin currently valued at $4.5 billion. In its white paper explaining Leo, Bitfinex promised that if the funds from the hack are ever recovered, it will use an amount equal to at least 80% of recovered net funds to repurchase and burn outstanding LEO tokens within 18 months of the funds’ recovery. Bitfinex confirmed its commitment to use the funds in this way in a statement Tuesday.