$40 Million Bitcoin Sell-off Ahead By North Korean Hackers, Warns US FBI

In a recent press release, the FBI sounded the alarm over a surge in blockchain activity tied to the theft of substantial cryptocurrency assets, prompting concerns over the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s (DPRK) involvement. The notorious Lazarus Group also recognized as APT38 and TraderTraitor, stands accused of orchestrating these cybercrimes.

A $40 Million Bitcoin Sell-off Awaiting, Warns FBI

Over the past 24 hours, the FBI has been closely monitoring the movements of stolen cryptocurrency amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars. It is suspected that the DPRK, through its TraderTraitor-affiliated operatives, might make a move to liquidate their bitcoin holdings valued at an astonishing $40 million.

The FBI’s extensive investigation has led to the discovery of about 1,580 bitcoin stolen from various cryptocurrency heists and currently held in multiple Bitcoin addresses. These assets are controlled by TraderTraitor-affiliated players, raising concerns about the potential consequences for the cryptocurrency market.

Individuals associated with TraderTraitor and related to the DPRK have been responsible for many large international cryptocurrency thefts. On June 22, 2023, Alphapo was robbed of $60 million in virtual money; CoinsPaid was robbed of $37 million on the same day; and Atomic Wallet was robbed of $100 million on June 2, 2023. The FBI also described previous attacks by the same organization on Harmony’s Horizon Bridge and Sky Mavis’ Ronin Bridge.

Given these disclosures, the FBI has issued a strong advisory to private sector entities, emphasizing the critical need to meticulously examine blockchain data tied to the implicated addresses. A call for heightened vigilance is echoing, urging a thorough assessment of transactions, whether directly or indirectly associated with these addresses.

The FBI’s unwavering determination to counter the DPRK’s illicit ventures, spanning cybercrime and cryptocurrency appropriation, persists as they work to dismantle revenue channels that bolster the regime’s activities.

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The TraderTraitor Toolkit

The Lazarus Group, notorious for employing the TraderTraitor toolkit, has leveraged its arsenal of cyber tools to infiltrate cryptocurrency companies and exchanges. Their modus operandi frequently involves initiating attacks with phishing emails aimed at persuading personnel to unwittingly download a virus-laden file. This method has yielded notable successes, with the Lazarus Group leaving an indelible mark on the landscape of cybercrime.

As concerns mount over the astronomical value of cryptocurrency assets held by this DPRK-affiliated group, the FBI’s spotlight on these cyber activities underscores the ongoing battle against digital theft and the covert financial underpinnings of rogue regimes.

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