Gate.io
Last changed 2026-10-27 · Fact-check review — Fact-check review (verdict: approve): the reviewer checked the page's claims against its sources; the trust score did not change. Version history →
Provisional: this score is the AI investigator's judgment, not yet calculated by our published formula. Treat it as indicative. How scoring works →
anchored·2NhbHE…oqr7Summary
Gate.io (rebranded to Gate.com in May 2025, formerly Bter.com) is a large centralized cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2013 by Lin Han and incorporated in the Cayman Islands, claiming more than 52 million users and over 4,600 listed assets. On-chain investigator ZachXBT alleges it concealed a roughly $230 million hack in April 2018 attributed to North Korea's Lazarus Group, and the exchange has also suffered a 2015 cold-wallet hack, a 2018 supply-chain attack and losses in a 2019 ETC 51% attack. Further concerns include a 2025 CIMA notice that it was never licensed in the Cayman Islands, an AML-related ban in India, the disputed 2025 $LA futures liquidations, alleged wash trading and persistent complaints of frozen accounts, partly offset by monthly Hacken-reviewed proof-of-reserves and licenses in Malta, Cyprus, Dubai and elsewhere.
Connected Entities
13 entities · 60 linked investigations- Ethereum→mentioned with→Bitcoin(60%)
- Monero→mentioned with→Kraken(70%)
- KuCoin→mentioned with→Bitcoin(70%)
- KuCoin→mentioned with→ZachXBT(70%)
- Monero→mentioned with→Bitcoin(60%)
- Monero→mentioned with→ZachXBT(65%)
- KuCoin→mentioned with→Ethereum(60%)
- ZachXBT→mentioned with→Ethereum(70%)
- ZachXBT→mentioned with→Bitcoin(65%)
- ZachXBT→mentioned with→Kraken(60%)
- + 22 more
Connected Through
10 shared actors · 619 investigationsDistinct actors this investigation shares with others — holders, traders, and named parties. Shared infrastructure (exchanges, pools) is excluded.
- □Ethereumorganization
- □ZachXBTorganization
- ♦Bitcointoken
- □Krakenorganization
Timeline(22 events)
April 2013
Lin Han founds Bter.com in China, one of the earliest altcoin exchanges
Gate.io History — rue.eeFebruary 2015
Bter.com loses approximately 7,170 BTC (~$1.75M) from a cold wallet; platform temporarily shuts down and commits to repaying users
BTER Claims $1.75 Million in Bitcoin Stolen in Cold Wallet Hack — CoinDesk2017
Exchange rebrands from Bter.com to Gate.io and relocates to the Cayman Islands following Chinese regulatory pressure
Gate.io History — rue.eeApril 2018
Gate.io allegedly hacked for approximately $230-234 million (10,777.94 BTC, 218,790 ETH and other assets), with the date reported as about April 18 or April 18-21; attributed by on-chain investigators to North Korea's Lazarus Group; breach allegedly never disclosed to users
ZachXBT Calls Out Gate.io for Keeping 2018 Hack Under Wraps — CryptoSlateNovember 2018
Attackers compromise StatCounter and inject a Bitcoin address-substitution script targeting Gate.io withdrawal pages (from November 3); ESET discovers and reports it on November 6 and Gate.io removes StatCounter
Supply-chain attack on cryptocurrency exchange gate.io — ESET WeLiveSecurityJanuary 2019
Ethereum Classic 51% attack; Gate.io loses approximately 54,200 ETC (~$200,000), of which ~$100,000 is later returned
Ethereum Classic Hacker Stole 54,200 ETC from Crypto Exchange Gate.io — CCNMarch 2020
GateToken (GT) officially adopted as Gate.io's platform token, launched without ICO or private sale
GateToken Guide — BeInCryptoNovember 2022
ZachXBT publishes on-chain findings alleging Gate.io concealed the April 2018 hack, according to one account (another dates the publication to February 2023)
ZachXBT Calls Out Gate.io for Keeping 2018 Hack Under Wraps — CryptoSlateFebruary 2023
1,944.72 ETH (~$3.2 million) moves from a dormant address tied to the 2018 theft; one account dates ZachXBT's investigation to this month
North Korean Hackers Move $3.2M from Gate.io 2018 Hack — CryptoSlateDecember 2023
Gate.io daily volume spikes to $4 billion; RATS token community accuses the exchange of fake volume
theblock.coDecember 2023
India's FIU issues a PMLA compliance show-cause notice to Gate.io and eight other offshore exchanges
99bitcoins.comJanuary 2024
Apple App Store in India blocks Gate.io following the FIU order; Google Play removal follows within days
99bitcoins.comJanuary 2024
Hacken completes its review of Gate.io's proof-of-reserves implementation, finding no severe issues and reporting a 115.47% reserve ratio
Gate.io's Proof of Reserves Implementation Passes Hacken's Security Audit — GlobeNewswireOctober 2024
Gate.io publishes reserves of $6.499 billion with a 120.22% reserve ratio
Gate.io Releases October 2024 Proof of Reserves Report — BeInCryptoDecember 2024
Indian government formally blocks the Gate.io website; users report being unable to access funds
99bitcoins.comDecember 2024
Gate.io delists XMR, DASH, ZEC, ZEN and XVG perpetual contracts, citing regulatory scrutiny of privacy coins
news.bitcoin.comJanuary 2025
Gate.io reports reserves above $10 billion with a 128.58% ratio and $2.3 billion surplus
Gate.io Reserves Surpass $10B — GlobeNewswireApril 2025
Gate Technology FZE obtains a full VASP license from Dubai's VARA
Legal Licenses, Registrations, and Regulatory Compliance — Gate.comApril 2025
CIMA issues a public notice that Gate.io and Gate Global Corp have never been licensed or authorised in or from the Cayman Islands
Gate.io and Gate Global Corp Not Registered With CIMA — CIMA Official NoticeMay 2025
Gate.io launches new primary domain Gate.com and a redesigned logo for its 12th anniversary
Gate Introduces Brand New Domain Gate.com — GlobeNewswireJune 2025
$LA perpetual futures price on Gate.io spikes from ~$0.60 to $25 due to an illiquid KuCoin index input, causing mass liquidations; compensation limited to negative-balance accounts or refused, depending on the account
chaincatcher.comAugust 2025
Gate US launches spot trading in 23 U.S. states, registered with FinCEN; expands to 30 states by January 2026
Gate US Officially Launches — GlobeNewswireDecision Log
- slot 462188596 · hash CLcYokxHPpFBREncqRYhf2f8TFDvR64WnDYQf7SVdQtU
- slot 462188592 · hash GP82ALeaeeRnkQBBkt4VcgVaRqaNKzY1FBY3YTuekLuf
- slot 454772676 · hash ARZ2xPpnje9m8edvaSt5n8XnoBihC3avnwkQH7ZUhcvd
- slot 426514874 · hash z3X53TXfeN3fhKnGVFAVDfKApfkwCZP2Pm2FDiHtXru
- slot 426514855 · hash HAEZTZiWNKXzd6ynSGbi1uwpswek9x74txv4gpJwmuky
- slot 422312326 · hash y3hNFHobrVbrTifCL3K2arB8ELBPx5bJUJ5SjSJSuXb
This investigation is cryptographically anchored to the Solana blockchain (6 decisions). 48 of 55 cited source URLs have an Internet Archive snapshot.
model: claude-code-merge-writer
generated: 5/4/2026, 2:55:01 AM
last updated: 10/27/2026, 7:26:22 PM
19 viewsavoid.net — verified advice for a post-truth world