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North Korean hackers linked to crypto thefts among world's best, experts say
North Korean hackers linked to the $6.3 billion Binance crypto theft are among the world's best thieves, with proceeds funding weapons
Key points
- North Korean hackers known as TraderTraitor stole $6.3 billion from Binance.
- Chainalysis reported North Korea stole at least $6.75 billion in crypto through end of 2025.
- Proceeds from heists help fund North Korean weapons and military programs.
Why it matters. The story highlights how North Korean cybercrime groups use sophisticated financial theft to circumvent sanctions and fund weapons programs, representing a significant global security threat.
Cybersecurity experts identified North Korean hackers known as TraderTraitor as responsible for the $6.3 billion theft from Binance on Friday, with proceeds funding the regime's weapons programs. Chainalysis reported North Korea stole at least $6.75 billion in cryptocurrency through the end of 2025, a total that includes the February 2025 ByBit hack and a September Bitget theft of $387 million.
Latest updates
North Korean hackers linked to crypto thefts among world's best, experts say
A US State Department spokesman said North Korean cybercrime is a “global problem” North Korean hackers likely behind the record $6.3 billion theft from cryptocurrency exchange Binance are among the world’s most prolific crypto thieves, and the proceeds help fund the country’s weapons programs, cybersecurity experts said on Friday. Crypto platform Binance freezes $3 billion worth of funds after “security issue” storyline 1 Blockchain investigation firms TRM Labs and Chainalysis attribute the heist to a North Korean hacking group known as “TraderTraitor,” a name used in a 2022 joint warning from the FBI, CISA and US Treasury that described how hackers used malicious software and other tricks to target software developers and IT staff at cryptocurrency companies. Tech firms take fresh hit as earnings misses fan AI fears Tech firms take fresh hit as earnings misses fan AI fears The announcements came a day after Google parent Alphabet reported soft growth in revenue from advertising and its search business Tech firms take fresh hit as earnings misses fan AI fears storyline 1 North Korea stole at least $6.75 billion in cryptocurrency through the end of 2025, Chainalysis said in a December 2025 report. That total includes the $1.5 billion ByBit exchange hack in February 2025. The group also hit Bitget, a separate exchange, taking $387 million in September, experts have said, .