North Korean Hackers Launder $300 Million From Record $1.5 Billion Crypto Heist

The Lazarus Group, linked to North Korea, is accused of orchestrating the largest cryptocurrency theft in history, targeting the ByBit exchange.

Hackers associated with North Korea's Lazarus Group stole $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency from Dubai-based ByBit on February 21, 2025.
Approximately $300 million of the stolen funds have already been laundered, making recovery unlikely, according to blockchain analytics firm Elliptic.
The FBI confirmed North Korea's involvement and warned that the stolen assets are being rapidly converted into Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies across multiple blockchains.
The stolen funds are believed to support North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, highlighting the regime's reliance on cybercrime for revenue generation.
ByBit has reimbursed affected customers using investor loans and launched a bounty program to track and recover the stolen assets.