LONDON (CNNMoney) <\/p>\n
Cyber thieves have run off with about 19,000 bitcoin ($5.2 million) from Bitstamp accounts. The company said it has suspended services after some digital wallets were compromised on Jan 4. <\/p>\n
Bitstamp told customers not to make any deposits as it works with authorities to find the culprits. <\/p>\n
The firm said the breach accounts for only a fraction of its total reserves, with most held in secure offline storage systems. All balances held prior to the suspension would be repaid in full, it said. <\/p>\n
It's not the first time Bitstamp has been the victim of cyber crime. Last February, the Slovenia-based company halted withdrawals after hackers overwhelmed its servers in a denial-of-service attack. <\/p>\n
Related: Sony breaks silence after \"malacious\" hack <\/p>\n
Bitcoin has lost some of its shine over the past year. The virtual currency is trading at about $275. That's well off peaks reached in late 2013 -- when prices topped $1,000. Its value has tumbled and exchanges have been beset with glitches and hacks. <\/p>\n
Mt. Gox, once the world's largest bitcoin trading platform, was struck by what was essentially a massive bank robbery in 2014. When the exchange discovered it was under attack, it stopped investors from pulling their money out. Nearly $400 million was lost forever. <\/p>\n
Bitcoin was created in 2009 and allows users to buy merchandise anonymously. Last month Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) joined a growing number of companies that accept bitcoins as payment, including PayPal and a scattering of restaurants and car services. <\/p>\n
But the digital currency remains controversial since it is not government-issued and isn't practical for day-to-day use. <\/p>\n
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More: LONDON (CNNMoney) Cyber thieves have run off with about 19,000 bitcoin ($5.2 million) from Bitstamp accounts. The company said it has suspended services after some digital wallets were compromised on Jan 4. Continue reading
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