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WazirX

Primary URL Location Industry
wazirx[.]com
Country India
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Financial Services
Profile

WazirX operates as a cryptocurrency exchange platform headquartered in India, facilitating the trading of various digital assets. The exchange provides core services including spot trading pairs for cryptocurrencies and wallet infrastructure for asset custody. Its primary operational focus centers on the Indian market, positioning itself as a significant participant within the country's evolving digital asset ecosystem. The platform interfaces with retail and institutional users seeking exposure to cryptocurrencies amid fluctuating regulatory conditions governing digital assets in India.

A distinguishing feature of WazirX's infrastructure involves its implementation of multisignature wallet security protocols managed through third-party custody provider Liminal. This setup required three transaction approvals from WazirX signatories via Ledger Hardware Wallets, supplemented by final authorization from Liminal, with additional safeguards restricting transactions to whitelisted addresses. The July 2024 cyber attack exploiting interface discrepancies to bypass these controls demonstrated both the platform's security investments and persistent vulnerabilities in complex custody arrangements. The incident resulted in over $230 million in stolen funds, triggering immediate containment measures including blocked suspicious deposits and collaboration with external forensic teams to trace illicit transactions.

WazirX maintains operational independence following a failed acquisition attempt by global exchange Binance in 2022, which left ownership disputes unresolved. The platform continues navigating India's ambiguous cryptocurrency regulatory framework while managing reputational and technical challenges stemming from the breach. Its crisis response emphasized transparency through public incident reporting and commitment to asset recovery, reflecting ongoing efforts to balance security requirements with market demands in high-risk digital asset environments. The exchange's future trajectory remains tied to resolving security shortcomings and adapting to India's developing regulatory stance on cryptocurrency operations.

Incidents
Linked incidents available to members
1 incident