Crypto
Kim Jong Un-Led North Korea Has Found The Crypto Industry An Easy Target, Former FBI Agent Says Hacks Part Of 'Grand Internal Vision'
On-chain sleuths have linked the latest attack on Indian cryptocurrency exchange WazirX to North Korea-based cybercriminals, the latest in a series of coordinated attempts by groups present in the East Asian nation to bleed the growing industry.
After blockchain analytics firm Elliptic’s preliminary inquiry, which tied the $230 million exploit to North Korea, on-chain detective ZachXBT suspected the involvement of the notorious Lazarus Group.
North Korean hackers have long tormented the cryptocurrency space, stealing a whopping $2 billion over the last two years, according to analytics firm Chainalysis.
Benzinga talked to experts to understand why the industry has become a soft target for these unscrupulous players.
‘A Tool To Circumvent Financial Sanctions’
Stephanie Talamantez, a former FBI agent, and currently the Managing Director at security consultancy firm Guidepost Solutions, told Benzinga that these are nothing but financially motivated crimes that exploit the relative ease of cryptocurrency transfers.
“These hacks enable North Korea to swiftly acquire funds while circumventing imposed restrictions and sanctions,” Talamantez stated.
She added that the FBI has been relentlessly pursuing Lazarus Group, the syndicate believed to be behind many of the high-profile cryptocurrency hacks, but faces challenges in acting against the perpetrators due to the sanctuary provided by the North Korean government.
“These hacks are state-sponsored activities, and there have been many published reports that these hackers are recruited and trained from an early age,” the former FBI officer said. “They are believed to be part of a grand internal vision for the future of strengthening North Korea’s economy.”
These assertions are not unfounded, as even the U.S. government claims that the illegal proceeds from the thefts are used to fund North Korea’s weapons and missile program.
See Also: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Fall As Trump’s Presidency Odds Dip On Prediction Market: Analyst Highlights ‘Long The Dip Time’
Lack Of Regulations To Blame?
Dr. Michael Skiba, an international expert on financial crime and fraud, said the cryptocurrency industry remains at the top of Lazarus Group’s list as they see it as a low-risk, high-reward endeavor.
Skiba, who is currently the Criminal Justice Program Director at Colorado State University Global, blamed the industry’s regulatory landscape in part for its undoing.
“The Lazarus Group employs very sharp IT people who have a high degree of expertise in cryptocurrency, as it is very unchartered ground as far as regulation, law enforcement jurisdiction, and penalties are concerned.”
The vulnerabilities of the cryptocurrency space were acknowledged by people working within the industry as well.
Jared Grey, CEO of Sushi Labs, linked to the decentralized exchange SushiSwap, admitted that the pseudo-anonymity, decentralized nature, and high value of cryptocurrencies have made it an attractive target for North Korean groups.
These insights set the stage for deeper discussions at the upcoming Benzinga Future of Digital Assets event on Nov. 19.
Image Generated With DallE 3
Read Next:
Crypto
BitGW Expands Global Ecosystem by Seeking Affiliate Partners Worldwide
NEW YORK, March 09, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the cryptocurrency industry continues to grow globally, digital asset platforms are increasingly turning to community partnerships to accelerate adoption. BitGW, a global cryptocurrency exchange focused on secure and compliant crypto trading, is actively seeking affiliate partners as part of its ongoing efforts to expand its global ecosystem and connect with new audiences.
Founded in 2023, BitGW has positioned itself as a technology-driven digital asset trading platform serving users across multiple regions. With a remote-first operating model and an international team, the exchange has developed an infrastructure designed to support the borderless nature of the cryptocurrency market. As the platform continues to grow, BitGW is now inviting affiliates from across the crypto industry to participate in promoting the platform and contributing to the expansion of its trading ecosystem.
The company is currently looking for a wide range of affiliate partners, including cryptocurrency influencers, trading educators, digital media outlets, blockchain communities, and independent content creators. By collaborating with these partners, BitGW aims to strengthen connections with the global crypto community while expanding awareness of its platform and services.
Affiliate partners will play an important role in introducing BitGW to new users and communities. Through content creation, educational resources, market insights, and community engagement, affiliates can help promote the platform and highlight its features to audiences interested in cryptocurrency trading and digital assets. The Affiliate Program provides additional information for potential partners interested in participating in the initiative.
In recent years, affiliate partnerships have become a key growth channel for many digital asset platforms. Influencers, analysts, and specialized crypto media often serve as trusted sources of information for both new and experienced traders. By working closely with these voices, exchanges can better reach audiences who are actively engaged in the evolving Web3 ecosystem.
BitGW believes that collaboration with affiliates can help strengthen the overall crypto ecosystem by encouraging greater participation and education within the industry. Through partnerships with creators and community leaders, the platform hopes to support broader awareness of digital asset trading while building stronger connections between the exchange and the global cryptocurrency community.
The affiliate initiative is also part of BitGW’s broader strategy to expand its international presence. While the program is initially available in selected regions, the company plans to continue exploring additional partnership opportunities as its global footprint grows.
As cryptocurrency markets continue to evolve, community-driven growth is becoming an increasingly important factor for platforms seeking long-term development. By inviting affiliates from across the digital asset industry to join its network, BitGW aims to build a collaborative ecosystem where creators, communities, and trading platforms can grow together.
Through this initiative, BitGW is encouraging interested affiliates, media platforms, and crypto influencers to explore partnership opportunities and take part in promoting the next phase of digital asset adoption.
CONTACT:
Website: https://www.bitgw.com
Contact Person: Marcellino
Email: Support@bitgw.com
Company Name: BITGW CO., LTD
Disclaimer: This content is provided by BITGW CO., LTD. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/35482624-ad3f-4798-9821-65c9a0626790
Crypto
Here’s Why Bitcoin Price Must Not Fall To $54K: Analyst
Over the past few days, the Bitcoin price has had one of its better performances so far in the first quarter of 2026. Catalyzed by the rising geopolitical tensions between US-Isreal and Iran, the premier cryptocurrency climbed to $74,000 over the past week.
However, the Bitcoin price did not take long before retreating back below the psychological $70,000 level, confirming that the latest rally was merely a relief. With the bearish market structure still in place, it remains to be seen how low the price of BTC will go in its current phase.
$70 Million Worth Of Longs At Risk Of Liquidation
In a new post on the social media platform X, crypto analyst Ali Martinez revealed why a further decline to around $54,000 in the remaining period of this phase is possible and could be bad news for both investors and the Bitcoin price. Hence, the $54,000 mark could be an extremely pivotal region for the flagship cryptocurrency in this bear market.
Martinez’s evaluation revolves around the Aggregated Liquidation Levels Heatmap metric, which visualizes price zones with high concentrations of long or short liquidations. As expected, the red (hot) color on the map signifies a concentrated liquidation point of several high-leverage positions, often with high liquidity.
These high-liquidity spots often have a somewhat magnetic effect, with prices often drawn to them. According to Martinez, this “hot” zone for the Bitcoin price lies around the $54,000 mark, with over $70 million worth of long positions at risk of liquidation.
Ordinarily, a Bitcoin price drop to around $54,000 would do extra damage to the already low market sentiment. Meanwhile, from a technical perspective, the significant liquidation cascade likely to occur at that level could lead to a phenomenon called a “Long Squeeze,” where the flagship cryptocurrency continues its decline with renewed momentum.
For clarity, a Long Squeeze typically occurs when the falling price of a cryptocurrency (in this case, Bitcoin) forces bull traders to sell their assets either to cut losses or to break even. This sell-off catalyzes the ongoing bearish reaction and sends the BTC price further downwards.
Ultimately, the $54,000 region, which is also around the realized price, appears to be one of the most critical levels for the Bitcoin price trajectory over the next few months.
Bitcoin Price At A Glance
As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $67,830, reflecting an over 4% decline in the past 24 hours. Since reaching its one-month high around $74,000 on Wednesday, March 4, the premier cryptocurrency has retraced by nearly 10%.
Crypto
Analysts Predict Conservative XRP Price If It Follows 2017 Run
XRP is at the center of ultra-bullish calls after two crypto commentators pointed to a 2017-style fractal as the basis for a major breakout. The latest discussion started with analyst CryptoBull, who predicted that the XRP price is on track for $10 to $11 by the end of March if its price action continues to follow its 2017 structure.
That outlook then led to a much bigger response from Remi Relief, who said his own conservative target for this cycle is four digits between $1,200 and $1,700.
CryptoBull’s Fractal Call To Double Digits
CryptoBull’s prediction is built around a familiar XRP talking point: that the cryptocurrency is tracing a structure similar to its 2017 breakout. A 2017 comparison is one of the strongest bullish narratives available for the crypto because it points to the one period in XRP’s history when price moved from relative quiet into a parabolic run in a short time period.
In his technical analysis, CryptoBull said he now believes XRP is following the 2017 fractal and that this setup could take the cryptocurrency to $10-$11 by the end of March, adding that he expected six more days sideways before a push higher.
The chart attached to that post shows XRP moving through a flat, compressed range under a horizontal resistance zone on the daily candlestick chart, with the green fractal path projecting a rally once that resistance is broken.
The structure is simple enough to explain: long consolidation, breakout through resistance, brief pause, then a vertical continuation. In other words, the chart is not presenting a slow grind upward like you might expect considering XRP’s recent price action. It is presenting a replay of XRP’s most explosive behavior back in 2017.
XRP Price Chart. Source: @CryptoBull2020 On X
Remi Relief Takes The Same Setup To An Extreme
Remi Relief took that same broad idea and pushed it far above CryptoBull’s target. In his response, he said that in 2024 he had already stated XRP would follow the 2017 run and go to $1,200 conservatively in this cycle. The move was delayed, although this is something he warned about back in June 2025 and after revising his thinking, his target range became $1,200 to $1,700.
CryptoBull’s $10 to $11 call is already a massive move from current levels, but it still sits within the realm of numbers that are possible based on XRP’s current circulating supply. A $10 price would imply a market capitalization of about $610 billion, and $11 would imply about $671 billion. On the other hand, a move to $1,200 would imply about $73.2 trillion, while $1,700 would imply about $103.7 trillion in market cap.
The real significance of these predictions may not be whether XRP actually reaches four-digit prices. It may be what they say about sentiment among XRP traders right now. At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $1.37, with an intraday range of $1.35 to $1.41. This shows that the cryptocurrency is far below the predicted price levels. However, there are many traders with an ultra-bullish bias who are still willing to rally around any setup that resembles 2017.
Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView
-
Wisconsin1 week agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts6 days agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Maryland1 week agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Florida1 week agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Pennsylvania4 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
News1 week ago2 Survivors Describe the Terror and Tragedy of the Tahoe Avalanche
-
Sports5 days agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death
-
Virginia5 days agoGiants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia