North Korean-Linked Hackers Are Targeting Crypto Platforms More But Stealing Less, Report Says
North Korean-linked hackers stole 40% less crypto in 2023, Chainalysis says
The Bitcoin, top, and Ethereum, bottom, logos on a screen at a cryptocurrency exchange in Hong Kong, China, on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023.
Photographer: Paul Yeung/BloombergThe number of North Korean-linked hacks of cryptocurrency platforms rose to a record high in 2023, though the actual amount of funds stolen dropped around 40%, a report Wednesday from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis Inc. showed.
In a series of 20 hacks throughout the year, cybercriminals linked to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea siphoned slightly more than $1 billion worth of cryptocurrency, compared to $1.7 billion in 2022. North Korean hackers often target cryptocurrency to raise money as a way around international sanctions, according to US officials.