The saga surrounding El Salvador's state-operated Bitcoin wallet, Chivo, has taken a alarming turn as hackers continue their relentless assault by exposing sensitive information related to the platform. In the latest development, the hacker group known as CiberInteligenciaSV has released part of the source code for Chivo's automated teller machines (ATMs) on the infamous black hat hacking crime forum, BreachForums.

The move by CiberInteligenciaSV follows a series of concerning events related to the Chivo wallet hack, including the public exposure of personal data belonging to 5.1 million Salvadorans, which is nearly the entire adult population of the country. This breach, reported in early April, sent shockwaves throughout the nation and raised serious concerns about the security and privacy measures implemented by the government's Bitcoin initiative.

In their latest attack, the hacker group took to BreachForums, declaring, "This time I bring you the code that is inside the Bitcoin Chivo Wallet ATMs in El Salvador, remember that it is a government wallet, and as you know, we do not sell, we publish everything for free for you."

The leaked information includes a compilation of code and virtual private network (VPN) credentials from the Chivo Wallet ATM network, further compromising the integrity and security of the platform.

Local cybersecurity project VenariX had warned the public about the impending leak on X (formerly Twitter), referring to CiberInteligenciaSV's Telegram channel, which had previously posted about plans to release the source code. The hacker group's Telegram post read, "Tonight we will publish part of the source code and VPN access that belongs to Chivo Wallet, for free as always, unless one of you nosy government people wants to talk."

El Salvador made history in September 2021 by becoming the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender. The government promoted Chivo as the official Bitcoin wallet for citizens, allowing them to buy, sell, store, and withdraw Bitcoin from ATMs. However, the platform faced numerous challenges from the outset, with users reporting multiple bugs and technical glitches.

Despite the gravity of the personal data hack reported in early April, the Salvadoran government has remained silent on the issue, fueling further confusion and concern among the public. Industry reports indicate that El Salvador authorities have not released any official statement addressing the hack, leaving citizens and the broader crypto community in the dark about the extent of the breach and the measures being taken to mitigate its impact.

As the situation continues to unfold, the actions of CiberInteligenciaSV have highlighted the vulnerabilities within El Salvador's Bitcoin infrastructure and raised questions about the government's ability to secure sensitive data and maintain the integrity of its digital systems. This ongoing saga underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the need for transparency and accountability from authorities when dealing with such critical incidents.