Global Law Enforcement Dismantles Hacker Forum with 142,000 Members
In a sweeping international operation on March 3-4, 2026, the FBI and Europol, alongside law enforcement from 14 other nations, shut down the cybercrime forum LeakBase. The site, which was accessible on the open web and active since 2021, had amassed over 142,000 members, establishing itself as one of the world's largest marketplaces for stolen data and hacking tools.
Authorities seized the forum's domains and database, which contained over 32,000 posts and 215,000 private messages. The action included approximately 100 enforcement measures globally, specifically targeting 37 of the platform’s most active users. The seized database exposed user accounts, IP logs, and private communications, providing crucial evidence for ongoing investigations and further arrests.
Takedown Cuts Financial Incentive for Crypto-Related Hacks
The dismantling of LeakBase strikes at the economic infrastructure that supports a wide range of cybercrime, including attacks targeting digital asset investors. The forum served as a key distribution point for the raw materials of financial fraud, such as stolen account credentials, banking details, and personal information used in account takeovers.
By disrupting this marketplace, law enforcement directly increases the difficulty and cost for criminals to acquire and monetize compromised data. While not exclusively focused on cryptocurrency, the platform's shutdown hinders a significant source of tools and information used to exploit vulnerabilities within the broader digital finance ecosystem. This proactive enforcement enhances the overall security landscape, which is a crucial factor for building sustained investor confidence in digital assets.
Together with our partners, we are sending a message that no criminal is truly anonymous online and removing an easy point of access to stolen information on American businesses and individuals.
— Brett Leatherman, Assistant Director, FBI Cyber Division.
