Simon Dixon, a crypto investor and influencer, has described the Bybit exchange hack as the “largest exchange hack” in history, underscoring the significance of self-custody for Bitcoin. Dixon made this statement in a February 21 post on X.
“This is the largest exchange hack in history by a long way,” said Dixon. “A reminder that Bitcoin in self-custody is real $BTC.”
According to Cointelegraph, the Bybit exchange was hacked on February 21, 2025, resulting in over $1.4 billion worth of ETH-related tokens being stolen. The hacker accessed an Ethereum cold wallet by exploiting a vulnerability in a multisignature wallet that appeared legitimate. Bybit’s CEO Ben Zhou confirmed the breach but assured users that all other cold wallets remained secure and withdrawals continued as normal. The incident led to a 3% drop in Ether’s price and added to a series of high-profile crypto security incidents in early 2025.
A self-custodial wallet is defined as a digital wallet where users maintain full control over their cryptocurrencies without relying on third parties like banks or exchanges. Unlike custodial wallets, self-custodial wallets ensure only the user can access their funds. This means no approval process is required to access the wallet, allowing users to manage their assets freely. However, these wallets require careful management of private keys or mnemonic phrases to avoid losing access, according to Bitcoin.com.
Bybit suspended services in India on Jan. 12, 2025, due to regulatory challenges. Indian users can’t place new trading orders, modify derivative positions, or deposit crypto and fiat, though withdrawals remain unaffected. Promotional campaign participation is also restricted.
Dixon, CEO and co-founder of BnkToTheFuture.com, has been an outspoken figure in cryptocurrency and global financial discourse. Beyond his work in fintech, he has commented on geopolitical issues. Recently, he claimed that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled Israel’s actions as “completely illegal” and determined there was “plausible genocide,” which was a misinterpretation of the actual findings. According to BBC reporting, the ICJ’s January 2024 ruling did not determine that genocide was plausible but rather said that Palestinians have a “plausible right” to protection under the Genocide Convention. Dixon is also known for authoring Bank to the Future—the first published book to mention Bitcoin—and has built a reputation in the crypto space by leading investments in major exchanges like Kraken, Coinbase, and Bitsta.
