Key Takeaways
- Microsoft’s outage disrupted Outlook, Copilot, and some Teams functions, while NHS organizations reported email problems.
- Kraken Pro requires email approval for new crypto withdrawal addresses added from untrusted devices.
- Its one-hour approval deadline could create problems for customers unable to access their inboxes.
Microsoft’s massive Outlook outage could delay withdrawals to newly added crypto addresses at exchanges that require email approval, with Kraken Pro giving some customers just 1 hour to confirm a new destination.
The disruption began on Nov. 12 and continued into Friday, affecting Outlook, Microsoft’s Copilot AI assistant and some Teams functions.
NHS organisations also reported communication problems as staff struggled to access email.
For crypto customers awaiting a time-limited verification message, an inaccessible inbox could interrupt the approval needed before funds can be sent to a new wallet.
Kraken’s One-Hour Withdrawal Address Deadline
Kraken Pro’s support documentation explains that customers must add and confirm a new cryptocurrency withdrawal address before using it.
Addresses added from trusted devices receive automatic approval. Customers using other devices must complete verification through their registered email.
“Otherwise, you will need to verify it via a link sent to your registered email address,” Kraken says.
That link expires after one hour if the customer has not confirmed the address.
A delayed message or inaccessible inbox could therefore leave customers unable to approve a new destination within the required window, postponing a withdrawal to that address.
The email also contains an account-locking link for customers who did not authorize the addition, giving access to the message a second security function.
Copilot and NHS Email Services Disrupted in Microsoft Outage
The outage’s effects extended across Microsoft services connected to Exchange Online, including Copilot and parts of Teams.
OpenAI also reported problems with its Microsoft connectors, saying new connections could fail and tools were not working as expected.
Microsoft executive vice-president Charles Lamanna acknowledged the disruption.
“We regret that today’s outages caused disruptions for our customers, and we are working to address the issue,” he wrote on X.
In the UK, Evelina London said the outage had affected access to Outlook and other Microsoft platforms.
“We are not able to send or receive emails,” it said, while confirming that services and planned procedures were continuing.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals similarly said its clinical systems were unaffected and appointments were continuing normally.
The Guardian separately reported that pharmacy staff were having difficulty communicating with some GP surgeries about prescriptions, prompting warnings of longer waits for medicines.
Microsoft Reports Early Recovery
Users have already described alternative ways of communicating.
“It’s all SMS and phone calls today,” Brisbane-based Tom Freer wrote on LinkedIn.
Microsoft said unavailable servers had increased pressure on its remaining infrastructure.
Recovery efforts encountered setbacks when some restored servers became unresponsive again after traffic returned.
By Friday morning, the company reported “early signs of stabilization,” although capacity remains below normal.
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Kurt Robson is a London-based reporter at CCN, specialising in the fast-moving worlds of crypto and emerging technology. He began his career covering local news in Cornwall after graduating from Falmouth University with First Class Honours in Journalism. There, he cut his teeth on everything from council meetings to missing swans.
He quickly rose through the ranks to become a frontline journalist at several of the UK’s leading national newspapers. Over the years, he has interviewed musicians and celebrities, reported from courtrooms and crime scenes, and secured multiple front-page exclusives.
Following the upheaval of the COVID-19 pandemic, Kurt shifted his focus to technology journalism—just ahead of the AI boom. With a natural curiosity and a trained eye for emerging trends, he has found a new rhythm in reporting on innovation.
At CCN, Kurt's work focuses on the cutting edge of crypto, blockchain, AI, and the evolving digital world. Drawing on his background in people-first reporting and his deep interest in disruptive tech, Kurt delivers stories that are insightful, entertaining, and human-centric.
