South Korean prosecutors probe loss of $48M in seized Bitcoin after phishing breach

On January 22, 2026, the Gwangju District Prosecutor's Office in South Korea began investigating the disappearance of roughly 70 billion won ($48 million) in seized Bitcoin during a routine security audit. An official reportedly accessed a phishing website while using a USB drive that held private keys, allowing attackers to obtain the digital asset passwords, and authorities are now reviewing other confiscated funds and broader crypto seizure rules.