FBI exposes potential $40 million Bitcoin cash-out by DPRK hacker group

Aug 23, 202310:00 UTC

The FBI has issued a serious alert to cryptocurrency firms regarding increased blockchain activity connected to the theft of a large amount of cryptocurrency. They’ve been watching cryptocurrency stolen by groups linked to North Korea, namely the Lazarus Group and APT38, together known as TraderTraitor. The agency has reason to believe that the DPRK may be gearing up to cash out a massive of over $40 million worth of Bitcoin.

The FBI’s comprehensive investigation into this matter has revealed that the TraderTraitor-affiliated actors have successfully transferred approximately 1,580 bitcoins, sourced from various cryptocurrency heists, into specific Bitcoin addresses. These addresses, now under scrutiny, include:

3LU8wRu4ZnXP4UM8Yo6kkTiGHM9BubgyiG
39idqitN9tYNmq3wYanwg3MitFB5TZCjWu
3AAUBbKJorvNhEUFhKnep9YTwmZECxE4Nk
3PjNaSeP8GzLjGeu51JR19Q2Lu8W2Te9oc
3NbdrezMzAVVfXv5MTQJn4hWqKhYCTCJoB
34VXKa5upLWVYMXmgid6bFM4BaQXHxSUoL

These addresses have been traced back to the culprits behind several high-profile international cryptocurrency heists. Notable among these incidents is the June 22, 2023, theft of $60 million in virtual currency from Alphapo, the simultaneous stealing of $37 million from CoinsPaid, and the bold $100 million virtual currency theft from Atomic Wallet on June 2, 2023.

Related Article: North Korea’s Lazarus Group could be behind the $200 million attack on Euler Finance

The FBI had previously provided detailed information on TraderTraitor’s assaults on Harmony’s Horizon Bridge and Sky Mavis’ Ronin Bridge. In addition, a comprehensive Cybersecurity Advisory on TraderTraitor has been disseminated.

Cryptocurrency entities in the private sector are being urged by the FBI to closely scrutinize the blockchain data associated with the previous addresses. Heightened attentiveness is crucial in guarding against any transactions that directly involve, or are derived from, these addresses.

The FBI is strongly committed to fighting illegal activities by the DPRK, such as cybercrime and stealing virtual currency. They are determined to stop these rogue elements from making money for the regime through unlawful methods.

Earlier a report by Todayq News on 19, 2023, where it was mentioned that North Korean hackers had stolen approximately $2 billion in cryptocurrency over five years, with a significant $200 million stolen in 2023 alone, constituting 20% of this year’s total. They mainly target decentralized finance (DeFi) systems, focusing on cross-chain bridges for large crypto transfers.

Related Article: UN’s unpublished report talks of North Korea’s $630 million Crypto heist

This highlights the increasing problems caused by cybercriminals using decentralized cryptocurrencies for profit. Cryptocurrency companies and law enforcement are working together to protect the digital financial system from evolving tactics of groups like TraderTraitor. © Todayq News