Bitcoin exchange looks into criminal complaint

Karpeles says Mt Gox will try to resume business as a way of increasing repayments to its creditors

The Tokyo bitcoin exchange that filed for bankruptcy protection blamed theft through hacking for its losses today, and said it was looking into a criminal complaint.

 

In an announcement posted on the Mt. Gox exchange's website, CEO Mark Karpeles outlined the events that resulted in the company's insolvency and said there was a "high probability" theft was behind the disappearance of bitcoins. "We will make all efforts to ensure that crimes are punished and damages recovered," Karpeles said.

 

He said Mt. Gox will try to resume business as a way of increasing repayments to its creditors.

 

The online exchange was unplugged early last week as rumours of its insolvency swirled, adding to doubts about the viability of bitcoins overall.

 

Its woes are a setback for bitcoin, a virtual currency that has grown in popularity since its 2009 creation as a way to make transactions across borders without third parties such as banks.

 

Bitcoin has also become a highly speculative form of investing. But it has comes with risks, as the Mt. Gox debacle has illustrated, partly because bitcoins are not regulated by central banks or other financial authorities.

 

The statement said illegal access to Mt. Gox in early February abused a bug in its computer system.

 

It also said "large discrepancies" were found between the amount of cash held in financial institutions and the amount deposited by users, meaning that about 2.8 billion yen ($ 28 million) was unaccounted for.

 

Karpeles said on Friday that 750,000 bitcoins deposited by users and another 100,000 belonging to the company disappeared. That would amount to about $ 425 million at recent prices.

 

He repeated the bitcoin numbers in today's statement but said also the complete extent is not yet known.