Bitcoin Worth $14.5 Billion Stolen from LuBian Mining Pool
- 127,426 BTC stolen from LuBian in December 2020.
- Incident is largest known Bitcoin theft.
- No public or regulatory responses recorded.

In December 2020, 127,426 Bitcoin worth $14.5 billion was secretly stolen from LuBian, a Chinese mining pool, marking the largest recorded Bitcoin theft orchestrated by unidentified perpetrators.
The multi-billion dollar heist underscores critical security vulnerabilities within mining operations, igniting concerns about unreported threats in the cryptocurrency ecosystem and fueling uncertainties among stakeholders.
LuBian, a Chinese mining pool, suffered a theft of 127,426 BTC in December 2020, valued now at $14.5 billion, marking it as the largest known Bitcoin theft.
The theft’s significance reflects on mining pool security and its long-term concealment, affecting historical and ongoing vulnerabilities in cryptocurrency. No immediate market disruptions or regulatory responses have been observed.
Arkham Reveals 127,426 BTC Theft from LuBian
Arkham Intelligence’s revelation of the theft of 127,426 BTC from LuBian, a prominent mining pool, occurred in December 2020. Arkham’s Tweet highlights this unprecedented event.
The incident remains unaddressed, with no credible public statements from the executives or culprits responsible.
LuBian controlled around 6% of the global Bitcoin hashrate, indicating their industry influence. Arkham Intelligence’s on-chain analysis highlighted the bulk transfer of assets on December 28, 2020, with no official investigative follow-up from LuBian or regulatory bodies.
Cryptocurrency Market Unmoved by Massive Theft
The theft, kept hidden for years, did not visibly alter Bitcoin’s market performance or initiate significant exchange actions. Arkham’s discovery now exposes weaknesses in mining pool protections and the lack of immediate security protocols.
Financial markets have yet to respond, with no formal acknowledgments from institutional or governmental entities. The absence of reactions highlights a gap in the quick detection and reporting of such large-scale crypto asset breaches.
Insights from Past Bitcoin Thefts on Security
Previous major Bitcoin thefts, like Mt. Gox, were promptly publicized and led to severe consequences for affected exchanges. The LuBian case, however, eluded major attention and regulatory scrutiny.
Historical thefts indicate potential repercussions, such as increased mining pool regulations or infrastructure upgrades. The LuBian hack might encourage shifts towards more transparent and secure blockchain operations, though evidence remains unconfirmed.
“The LuBian incident marks a significant event in crypto history, highlighting the vulnerabilities in mining pool security.” – Arkham Intelligence, Blockchain Intelligence Platform
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