North Korea just had its biggest year ever stealing cryptocurrency

[Zorro]

North Korean hackers had their biggest year yet for stealing cryptocurrencies in 2025.

Cyber attackers sponsored by the rogue regime have swiped over $2.02 billion in crypto since January, according to the latest findings from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis.

Through early December, the Chainalysis report shows thieves supported by North Korea have stolen over 50% more in crypto this year than in 2024, bringing their total identified haul from crypto theft since 2016 to $6.75 billion.

The findings are just the latest example of how the heavily sanctioned nation has exploited security vulnerabilities in the crypto world to create a significant revenue source. As far back as 2019, national security officials for the US and UN have stated that funds stolen from these affiliated hacker groups support North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles programs.

"The reality is that cryptocurrency, because of its global 24/7 access, creates a unique value proposition for the regime to target," Chainalysis head of national security intelligence Andrew Fierman said.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/north-korea-just-had-its-biggest-year-ever-stealing-cryptocurrency-130002485.html

[ret5hd]

1. I have ZERO ZERO ZERO interest in crypto, but I do have one question:

1) crypto earns no interest, so...

2) there is no real incentive to hold crypto in an "account" somewhere, so

3) why do people hold the crypto in these accounts rather than in their own "crypto wallet"?

[taxi]

2. How odd that Kim Jung Un and Trump had buddied up prior to

Trump climbing aboard the crypto train. Then, mysteriously, Kim Jung Un isn't even a distant memory. Now we learn both he and Trump each carve a few billion out of the same pie.

[hunter]

3. Probably the same crew that advertises crypto recovery services.

First they grab some fool's crypto, then they grab that fool's dollars.

I wonder how many people actually report these crimes.