North Korean hackers stole 1.54 billion euros in cryptocurrency in 2022
Posted: 03 Feb 2023, 11:36
North Korean hackers have been particularly prolific in 2022. According to a report by Chainalysis, they have amassed the monster loot of 1.54 billion euros, and this only in cryptocurrencies. This is almost half of the total sum globally. As a reminder, they are probably responsible for the biggest blockchain hack in history.
In the hacking world, we often tend to consider the Russian scene as one of the most formidable in the world. However, in recent years, the eastern country has found a new major competitor: North Korea.
If this has been relatively discreet until now, it was completely revealed in 2021, before literally exploding in 2022.
Indeed, last year was a record year for hacking in North Korea. According to a recent report by Chainalysis, the country has sat on a monster loot of 1.54 billion euros in cryptocurrencies.
This is far more than in 2021, when hackers had received 389 million euros, and almost triple their record year, with their loot of 474 million euros in 2018.
North Korea stole more than a billion euros in cryptocurrencies
This figure is all the more impressive when put into perspective with all the hacks recorded during the year.
Indeed, 2022 has been very prolific for hackers around the world who, their combined efforts, have amassed the sum of 3.45 billion euros in cryptocurrencies.
Chainalysis claims this is "the biggest year for crypto hacking". North Korea alone therefore represents 44% of this loot.
"For context, North Korea's total exports in 2020 were $142 million worth of goods, so it's no exaggeration to say that cryptocurrency piracy is a sizeable part of North Korea's economy. the nation," emphasizes Chainalysis.
It is recalled that the FBI suspects the country of being responsible for one more of the big cryptocurrency thefts in history. This is the Ronin blockchain hack, which brought $625 million to its perpetrators.
In the hacking world, we often tend to consider the Russian scene as one of the most formidable in the world. However, in recent years, the eastern country has found a new major competitor: North Korea.
If this has been relatively discreet until now, it was completely revealed in 2021, before literally exploding in 2022.
Indeed, last year was a record year for hacking in North Korea. According to a recent report by Chainalysis, the country has sat on a monster loot of 1.54 billion euros in cryptocurrencies.
This is far more than in 2021, when hackers had received 389 million euros, and almost triple their record year, with their loot of 474 million euros in 2018.
North Korea stole more than a billion euros in cryptocurrencies
This figure is all the more impressive when put into perspective with all the hacks recorded during the year.
Indeed, 2022 has been very prolific for hackers around the world who, their combined efforts, have amassed the sum of 3.45 billion euros in cryptocurrencies.
Chainalysis claims this is "the biggest year for crypto hacking". North Korea alone therefore represents 44% of this loot.
"For context, North Korea's total exports in 2020 were $142 million worth of goods, so it's no exaggeration to say that cryptocurrency piracy is a sizeable part of North Korea's economy. the nation," emphasizes Chainalysis.
It is recalled that the FBI suspects the country of being responsible for one more of the big cryptocurrency thefts in history. This is the Ronin blockchain hack, which brought $625 million to its perpetrators.