Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken has frozen user funds worth up to $4.2 million following an address-poisoning incident that began on August 18. The action may stem from the exchange's belief that some users independently attempted to protect or recover their assets.
The incident involved small USDT transfers from addresses intended to link Kraken accounts to HTX-related wallets, leading to the transactions being labeled as "HTX." However, uncertainty remains regarding the true ownership of these wallets.
On August 18, HTX denied that its official platforms or testing programs initiated the unexplained deposits. A Huobi HTX representative stated that the exchange examined internal records and found no evidence to support the allegations. Nevertheless, officials acknowledged that users may be taking voluntary measures due to concerns over fund security and rights.
In response to the frozen funds, affected individuals have established a Kraken user group. The group aims to unite impacted users, gather data, and pressure Kraken to address the issue, while working to differentiate users voluntarily safeguarding their funds from any official Huobi-led activity.
The situation unfolds against a backdrop of regulatory pressures, including UK sanctions that have placed limitations on HTX-related activities, and an EU transaction ban scheduled for August 23.
