Bitcoin.org Reportedly Hit With DDoS Attack, Ransom Demand

Attackers have demanded a ransom of 0.5 Bitcoin, the site’s operator told Decrypt.

By Mat Di Salvo

Jul 5, 2021

2 min read

Bitcoin.org. Image: Shutterstock.

In brief

Information resource Bitcoin.org got hit with a DDoS attack today, according to its operator.
The “overwhelming” attack overloaded it with useless traffic.
Attackers have since reportedly demanded a ransom of 0.5 Bitcoin.

The original Bitcoin website Bitcoin.org was today hit with an “overwhelming attack” and a ransom demand, the site’s operator confirmed to Decrypt.

According to the pseudonymous operator of the website, Cøbra, a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) hit Bitcoin.org and then the attackers demanded 0.5 Bitcoin—$17,055 at today’s price.

A DDoS attack is a coordinated attempt to overload a website with useless traffic and in turn bring it down. Such attacks are common in the crypto world. Bitcoin wallet manufacturer Trezor was last year hit by such an attack, as was crypto exchange Poloniex.

“It’s a very overwhelming attack, it’s a struggle to deal with, and I don’t know how long we’ll be down for,” Cøbra told Decrypt. As of publication, the site has come back online.

https://t.co/OsFgRFRRZb getting hit with an absolutely massive DDoS attack and a ransom demand to send Bitcoin or they'll continue.

I don't think I've been this offended in a while. Ungrateful scum.

— Cøbra (@CobraBitcoin) July 5, 2021

He added in a tweet: “I don't think I've been this offended in a while. Ungrateful scum.”

Bitcoin.org is an educational resource that was first registered in August 2008. The website helps people get involved with Bitcoin, the biggest cryptocurrency by market cap, by providing information on where to buy the asset and explaining its use cases.

BTC

-9.52%$85,217.10

24H7D1M1YMAX

Price data by

BTC price

Last month, the website lost a UK lawsuit after Cøbra opted to preserve his pseudonymity rather than defend himself against charges of copyright infringement from Craig Wright, who claims to have invented Bitcoin. As a result of the default judgment, Bitcoin.org must remove the Bitcoin whitepaper from its website for UK visitors.

Daily Debrief Newsletter

Start every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

Recommended News

Tether Purchases $735 Million in Bitcoin in Q1
Stablecoin issuer Tether Holdings purchased 8,888 Bitcoin in the first quarter, adding $735 million worth of the asset to its reserves on Tuesday alongside its latest attestation report. The company managing Tether’s industry-leading footprint now controls $7.8 billion worth of Bitcoin, according to the blockchain data platform Arkham Intelligence. Three months ago, Tether padded its reserves with $777 million worth of Bitcoin. Tether meanwhile reported record-breaking profits of $4.5 billion th...
NewsBusiness
3 min read
André BeganskiApr 1, 2025
Create an account to save your articles.
Metaplanet Bitcoin Treasury Grows to $324 Million With Latest BTC Buy
Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed firm Metaplanet just grabbed another 696 Bitcoin (BTC)—its most recent step in a bid to build one of the largest corporate Bitcoin treasuries in the world. The Japanese investment company said it had acquired the coins as part of its Bitcoin Income Generation strategy, which involves selling put options and using the collateral to purchase Bitcoin at an effective discount, in a statement released Tuesday. *Metaplanet Purchases Additional 696 $BTC* pic.twitter.com/ppn...
NewsBusiness
2 min read
Vismaya VApr 1, 2025
Create an account to save your articles.
California’s Amended Digital Assets Act Would Protect Crypto Payments, Self-Custody
A member of the California State Assembly has introduced an amendment to a recently introduced money transmission bill that would protect the ability of state residents to use cryptocurrencies as a means of payment. First introduced by Democrat Senator Laura Richardson on February 20 as the Money Transmission Act, the bill had been concerned primarily with requiring digital wallet providers operating in California to “take certain actions” to ensure the security of their products, including the...
NewsBusiness
5 min read
Simon ChandlerApr 1, 2025
Create an account to save your articles.

Coin Prices