India-based cryptocurrency exchange WazirX announced plans to issue a Recovery Token to repay debts to lenders following a $234 million cyberattack. This token will be distributed through an airdrop based on the balance ratio on the platform.
What is the Recovery Token?
According to WazirX’s official statement, the Recovery Token will be allocated to debtor accounts in proportion to platform balances. This aims to provide lenders with a tangible way to reclaim their funds. The token will facilitate the return of funds through various means, such as sharing future platform profits, asset sales, and recovering assets lost to theft.
During the cyberattack that occurred on July 18, 2024, North Korean hackers linked to the Lazarus Group transferred $234.9 million worth of cryptocurrency from WazirX to a new wallet address. Following this attack, WazirX halted its operations the same day and took legal steps against competing platforms like CoinSwitch.
WazirX stated, “The Recovery Token is a unique method to manage our debts and demonstrate our commitment to pay lenders.”
Bitfinex’s Previous Experience
WazirX’s Recovery Token plan is reminiscent of the major hack incident experienced by Hong Kong-based Bitfinex in 2016. Following the attack, Bitfinex distributed BFX tokens to users, planning to compensate them with future revenue or stock payments.
After the attack, Bitfinex froze Bitcoin 
$91,967 withdrawals and trading, reduced account balances by 36%, and distributed BFX tokens to users as a method for them to recover losses due to the hack.
By adopting a similar approach, WazirX aims to compensate lenders for their losses through the Recovery Token. The trading mechanism of the token and the platform’s future profit potential will play a key role in the repayment of debtor loans.
WazirX indicated that it will provide more information regarding the mechanics and details of the Recovery Token. This step is seen as a significant development in demonstrating the exchange’s commitment to its responsibilities towards lenders.
Conclusion
WazirX’s Recovery Token plan serves as an important example of how debts can be restructured following large-scale hack incidents. This step reflects lessons learned from previous experiences while offering innovative solutions to compensate lenders for their losses. Other cryptocurrency exchanges may also resort to similar methods when faced with comparable situations.
