• The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered that the North Korean hacking collective – the Lazarus Group – has drained cryptocurrencies worth millions of dollars through several attacks.
• The security agency believes the wrongdoers could soon cash out 1,580 BTC (worth almost $41 million at current prices).
• The FBI released a statement to notify cryptocurrency companies about a potential move that the Lazarus is about to make.
North Korean Hackers Might Sell Almost 1,600 Stolen BTC: FBI
Background Information
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) discovered that the North Korean hacking collective – the Lazarus Group – has drained cryptocurrencies worth millions of dollars through several attacks in the past few years. The security agency believes the wrongdoers could soon cash out 1,580 BTC (worth almost $41 million at current prices).
Alert from FBI
The FBI released a statement to notify cryptocurrency companies about a potential move that the Lazarus (APT38) is about to make. According to the law enforcement organization, the North Korean hackers have transferred 1,580 of their BTC stash (generated through numerous thefts in the recent past) to six addresses. The FBI thinks this step is a sign of a future sale of those assets (currently worth around $40.8 million).
Warning for Private Sector Entities
„Private sector entities should examine the blockchain data associated with these addresses and be vigilant in guarding against transactions directly with, or derived from, the addresses. The FBI will continue to expose and combat the DPRK’s use of illicit activities—including cybercrime and virtual currency theft—to generate revenue for the regime,“ warned by FBI.
Previous Exploits by Lazarus
Lazarus has been connected to multiple crypto heists over the past few years, including one of the largest in