Coinbase Hack: Sequoia Executive Roelof Botha Also A Victim

In the recent Coinbase hack a lot of personal information of  multiple users were stolen. Among the victims sits Roelof Botha, a top executive at Sequoia Capital. The hackers were able to take out details like Botha’s phone number, address, and other account info. 

The Coinbase crypto exchange disclosed on Thursday that the hackers had bribed customer service representatives in India to gain the data and access to their clients. The firm further stated that the information contained the client’s names, addresses, dates of birth, nationalities, government ID numbers, some banking details, account creation dates, and balances. 

The hackers then attempted to extort Coinbase for $20 million to conceal the hack, a demand the company rejected. According to reports, the firm first detected unusual activity from customer service representatives in January this year.

Botha, a prominent “PayPal Mafia” member alongside figures like Peter Thiel and Elon Musk, joined Sequoia Capital in 2003 and became its senior steward in 2022. His involvement highlights the breach’s reach into elite venture capital circles. As of now Coinbase, Botha, and Sequoia Capital have not made any official announcements of Botha’s involvement .

The hack has raised concerns and warned about the safety of crypto industry leaders. Some Coinbase customers received alerts last weekend about unauthorized access to their data. 

Meanwhile, France’s interior ministry convened crypto executives to address a wave of kidnappings targeting industry figures, including a failed attempt on the daughter and grandson of Paymium’s CEO in Paris. The ministry plans home checkups and security briefings for crypto leaders and their families, reflecting growing concerns over targeted attacks in the sector.