Etana, a fiat funding provider for Kraken, reports data security breach

Quick Take

  • Etana Custody, a cryptocurrency custody services provider for exchanges and traders, reported a data security breach, according to a memo reviewed by The Block. 
  • Etana said the breach, which occurred on April 18, result in a unauthorized external party to access its client user interface.
  • “Our client funds are safe and we will be communicating directly with our clients shortly,” a spokesperson for Kraken told The Block when reached.

Etana Custody, a cryptocurrency custody provider for exchanges and traders, suffered a data security breach last weekend, according to a memo reviewed by The Block.

Etana said the breach, which occurred on April 18, resulted in an unauthorized external party to access its client user interface. According to the company, customer funds were not impacted but some information may have been accessed by the intruder.

From the memo:

"Etana Custody client user interface was accessed by an unauthorized external party. There is a possibility that certain information of Etana's clients was able to be viewed during the breach. No client assets or securities, including fiat or digital currencies were affected and no unauthorized withdrawals or transfers were made. Etana's internal security systems, including its internal protocols with respect to client transfer requests were triggered and the breach was neutralized."

Etana said that the types of personal information that may have been accessed include "name, email address, physical address, and phone number." 

"The breach did not involve any driver's license numbers or government issued identification numbers or passport numbers," the memo added. Etana did not immediately respond to an email request for comment.

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Etana is a fiat currency funding partner of cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, according to the exchange's website. Etana's services are used by Kraken to allow clients "to fund their Kraken accounts with 5 major currencies USD/EUR/CAD/GBP/JPY." 

The trader who shared the Etana notice told The Block that he had not been notified by the exchange. 

"Not sure why Kraken hasn't contacted me given the unique identifier tying my account to them was leaked," the trader, who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said.

"Our client funds are safe and we will be communicating directly with our clients shortly," a spokesperson for Kraken told The Block when reached. 

Correction: The headline and contents of this article were edited to accurately reflect the relationship between Etana and Kraken. 


© 2023 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

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Frank Chaparro is Host of The Scoop podcast and Director of Special Projects. He also writes a biweekly newsletter. Chaparro started his career at Business Insider, where he specialized in the intersection of digital assets and Wall Street, market structure, and financial technology. Soon after joining Business Insider out of Fordham University, Chaparro was interviewing top finance and tech executives, including billionaire Mark Cuban, “Flash Boys” star Brad Katsuyama, Cboe Global Markets CEO Ed Tilly, and New York Stock Exchange President Tom Farley. In 2018, he become a sought after reporter in the crypto world, interviewing luminaries such as Tyler Winklevoss, the cofounder of Gemini, Jeremy Allaire, the CEO of Circle, and Fundstrat head Tom Lee. For inquiries or tips, email [email protected].