A high-tech illustration representing the $5.4 million Bitcoin repayment order after the UK Twitter hack.
In a recent cybercrime case in London, British cybercriminal Joseph James O’Connor has been ordered to repay $5.4 million (approximately £4.1 million) in crypto assets after authorities linked the amount to the infamous 2020 Twitter hack that compromised 69 high-profile Twitter accounts on July 15, 2020. Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s account was also included.
The order was issued following a civil recovery case filed by the U.K. Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which confirmed it had successfully obtained an order to seize 42 Bitcoin and additional cryptocurrency assets linked to the fraudulent scheme.
Can Someone Hack Your Twitter Account ?
Yes, Twitter (X) accounts can be hacked, often through phishing, weak passwords, or malware that steals login information. Signs of a hack include unauthorized tweets, changes to your account information, or being locked out. More recently, since 2020, Twitter has been hacked, where hackers could hack high-profile Twitter accounts and tweet anything.
2020 Twitter Account Hacked | 2020 Twitter Account Breach
On July 15, 2020, 69 high-profile Twitter accounts were hacked by outsiders to promote a Bitcoin scam. Twitter and other social media platforms confirmed that hackers had discovered a bug that allowed them to make unauthorized changes to anyone’s account and post arbitrary tweets. Some believe the hackers managed to do this with the help of a Twitter employee. Later, it was discovered that the hackers used a method called social engineering to breach Twitter’s systems. Following the investigation, law enforcement authorities arrested three hackers on July 30, 2020, and charged them with wire fraud, money laundering, identity theft, and unauthorized computer access related to the scam.You can also follow us on facebook for news updates.
CPS Recovers Millions in Crypto Assets
The £4.1 million valuation is based on the current market value of the Bitcoin seized by CPS officers during a raid on Joseph James O’Connor’s home as of November 10, 2025. The assets were initially frozen following O’Connor’s arrest and extradition proceedings. The court handed over all these assets to a trustee who will be responsible for selling the crypto assets and distributing the recovered funds.
Joseph James O’Connor Hacker’s Criminal History
Joseph James O’Connor is no ordinary criminal; he was known in the digital world as PlugwalkJoe. He committed crimes under this name and built his identity around it. O’Connor was arrested in Spain in 2021 and later extradited to the United States, where he faced multiple charges of computer intrusion, wire fraud, money laundering, cyberstalking, and sending threatening messages. He was sentenced to five years in prison.You can also follow us on instagram for news updates.
In 2023, he was sentenced to five years in a U.S. federal prison.
In the year 2023, the judge sentenced him to five years imprisonment considering all the crimes.
SIM-Swapping and Crypto Theft Also Included
The CPS confirmed that one of the main targets was an American cryptocurrency company and that a portion of the seized funds came from a SIM-swapping scheme involving that company. The hackers stole approximately $794,000 worth of digital assets, which they then laundered through various wallets.
In addition to Bitcoin, the seized assets include Ethereum (ETH) and stablecoins such as USDC and BUSD.
