Crypto

North Korean hackers allegedly stole record $2.02 billion of cryptocurrency in 2025. Here’s how they did it | Stock Market News

Published

3 months ago

December 20, 2025

North Korea remains dominant threat to cryptocurrency security in 2025, even while confirmed incidents have decreased, according to a report by blockchain analytics company Chainanlysis.

Hackers from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) allegedly stole a record $2.02 billion of crypto this year — a 51% jump compared to 2024, and taking their all-time total to $6.75 billion, it added.

The analysis further found that the DRPK is achieving larger thefts with fewer incidents, using unique methods to gain access and pull off their heists.

North Korea’s alleged crypto heists: Here’s how they did it

As per the report, these hacks were often carried out in unique fashion by embedding IT workers inside crypto services or using sophisticated impersonation tactics targeting executives.

Embedding IT workers

This is among the DPRK’s “principal attack vectors”, the report said. It added that the hackers secured jobs inside crypto services to gain privileged access and enable high‑impact compromises.

“Part of this record year likely reflects an expanded reliance on IT worker infiltration at exchanges, custodians, and web3 firms, which can accelerate initial access and lateral movement ahead of large‑scale theft,” it noted.

Fake jobs

Further, taking the IT worker model and “flipping it on its head”, the analysis said that DPRK-linked operators are also increasingly impersonating recruiters for prominent web3 and AI firms. This way, they orchestrate fake hiring processes that culminate in “technical screens” designed to harvest credentials, source code, and VPN or SSO access to the victim’s current employer.

“At the executive level, a similar social‑engineering playbook appears in the form of bogus outreach from purported strategic investors or acquirers, who use pitch meetings and pseudo–due diligence to probe for sensitive systems information and potential access paths into high‑value infrastructure,” it added.

Higher- value attacks

Over the years, DPRK-linked operators are increasingly undertaking significantly higher-value attacks compared to other threat actors. “This pattern reinforces that when North Korean hackers strike, they target large services and aim for maximum impact,” the report added.

It noted that “this year’s record haul came from significantly fewer known incidents”, including the massive $1.5 billion Bybit hack in February 2025.

DPRK’s distinctive laundering patterns

Not just the hacking process, the laundering of stolen funds is also distinctive, the report said. It noted that more than 60% of laundering was of volume concentrated below $5,00,000 transfer value tranches, despite the total stolen amounts being larger.

“Even while the DPRK consistently steals larger amounts than other stolen fund threat actors, they structure on-chain payments in smaller tranches, speaking to the sophistication of their laundering,” it added.

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Crypto

Man robbed of HK$6 million in crypto and silver in Hong Kong, probe under way

Published

6 hours ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

Man robbed of HK million in crypto and silver in Hong Kong, probe under way

Hong Kong police are investigating an attack and robbery in which a man lost about HK$6 million (US$767,070) in cryptocurrency and silver.

The force said it received a report at 3.52am on Saturday that a 25-year-old mainland Chinese man was attacked by three men and a woman at a hotel near Man Lok Street in Hung Hom and robbed of cryptocurrency worth HK$5 million from his account.

The suspects later took the victim to another unit in an industrial building, where they seized silver items worth HK$1 million.

No arrests had been made so far and a manhunt was under way to track down the four suspects.

Crypto

Bitcoin dives again after disappointing jobs report, ending midweek rally | Fortune

Published

18 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Bitcoin dives again after disappointing jobs report, ending midweek rally | Fortune

Bitcoin was barreling towards its best week in a month, but on Friday that momentum quickly dissipated. Since Wednesday, the largest cryptocurrency slumped roughly 7% to its current price of about $69,000, according to Binance. The downturn occurred following a lower than unexpected jobs report, spooking investors in the traditional stock market and in digital assets.

“The jobs number impacted all risk-on assets,” said Boris Alergant, head of strategic initiatives at Babylon. “During sell-offs like this, correlations tend to converge and assets move down in unison.”

The pullback for Bitcoin is part of a months-long slide for the crypto industry. Many expected the industry to flourish because of President Donald Trump’s friendly stance toward the sector. Yet, since October, the original cryptocurrency is down roughly 46% from its all-time high of $126,000.

Friday’s job report did not do the crypto industry any favors. Unemployment rose and jobs were cut more than expected. Other macroeconomic factors are weighing heavily on digital assets, namely the escalating conflict in the Middle East, which President Trump recently described as having “no time limits.” The conflict has skyrocketed gas prices, also contributing to concern among investors.

The major stock indexes mirrored Bitcoin, rallying in the middle of the week only to sputter on Friday morning. The S&P 500, for example, dropped about 2% following the release of the most recent job numbers after a brief surge on Wednesday.

Other cryptocurrencies also dropped as the week drew to a close. Ethereum is down roughly 5% since Thursday to its current price of about $1,970, and Solana is down roughly 5% during that time to its current price of about $85, according to Binance.

One analyst says that things could get worse before they get better. “If the week closes roughly as the market looks now, that would not be a very positive signal,” said Alex Tsepaev, chief strategy officer at B2Prime. “In that case, the price could move lower, and by lower I mean a possible retest of the $60,000 range per Bitcoin.”

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Crypto

1 Cryptocurrency Set to Rebound in 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Like most cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has been in a slump to start 2026. Over the first two months of the year, it lost 25%, continuing a downturn that began last October.

Although this hasn’t been fun for investors, several firms predict that Bitcoin could bounce back over the rest of the year. Analysts from JPMorgan Chase, in particular, have struck an optimistic tone based on expectations of increased institutional inflows.

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Image source: Getty Images.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024, leading to heavy institutional investment in the top cryptocurrency. Bitcoin ETFs hold $88 billion worth of Bitcoin, about 6% of the total supply, as of March 3, 2026.

ETF approval significantly expanded who can invest in the leading cryptocurrency. It used to be mainly the territory of retail investors, but because ETFs are regulated investment products, they allow hedge funds, pension funds, and other institutional investors to buy Bitcoin.

Bitcoin ETFs haven’t been immune to the recent sell-off. But they logged $787 million in inflows last week, snapping a streak of five straight weeks of outflows. This reversal is a sign that institutional investors are beginning to buy the dip on Bitcoin, which could be the first stages of a sustained recovery.

In a volatile crypto market, Bitcoin is the most resilient option and often the first to bounce back from downturns. ETF approval has given it a level of institutional support that no other cryptocurrency has.

While the SEC has approved spot ETFs for other cryptocurrencies, they aren’t nearly as large as those for Bitcoin. Ethereum ETFs rank second, with $13 billion in assets under management (AUM). I expect spot ETFs to help Bitcoin maintain a higher floor than in the past and rebound from its recent losses over the rest of 2026.

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JPMorgan Chase is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Lyle Daly has positions in Bitcoin and Ethereum. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Bitcoin, Ethereum, and JPMorgan Chase. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.