North Korea Arrests Hackers Accused of Laundering Stolen Bank Funds Using Cryptocurrency
North Korean authorities have arrested former military hackers accused of stealing state funds from two domestic banks and laundering the money using cryptocurrency. According to Daily NK, citing an anonymous source, the group allegedly hacked internal systems at North Korea's Central Bank and Foreign Trade Bank, redirecting foreign currency and state trading funds to overseas crypto wallets. Chinese brokers reportedly converted the assets into US dollars and yuan, with contacts in border cities exchanging the cryptocurrency for cash in real-time. They used encrypted messaging, unregistered phones, and small transactions to evade detection. The suspects were arrested in Pyongyang on July 12 after authorities noticed discrepancies in foreign currency payment confirmations and suspicious overseas IP activity. This money laundering method is similar to those used by other North Korean hacking groups. A UN sanctions monitoring report notes Chinese OTC traders play a central role in converting crypto stolen by Pyongyang-linked actors into fiat. According to Chainalysis, North Korean hackers stole a record $2 billion in cryptocurrency last year, accounting for a significant portion of global crypto theft.
cryptonews.ruIl y a 2 jours 11:12
