North Korean Hackers Steal $1.3B in 2024
In 2024, cybercriminals linked to North Korea achieved a new record for cryptocurrency theft. These individuals are notorious for their advanced abilities in deploying malware, social engineering, and stealing crypto assets.
They often use the stolen funds to support state-sponsored projects, including the development of weapons of mass destruction and missile programs in order to circumvent international sanctions. The total amount stolen by these hackers was $660.5 million in 2023, through 20 incidents.
However, in 2024, this number drastically increased to $1.34 billion, spread across 47 cases. This marked a significant 102.88% rise in the value of stolen funds.
According to a recent report by Chainalysis, North Korea’s attacks on cryptocurrency continue to escalate, despite an overall decrease in the number of cyber attacks. In particular, 2024 saw a rise in large-scale attacks involving sums of $50-100 million and amounts exceeding $100 million.
