North Korea-Linked Hackers Steal $3B in Crypto Since 2017

Since 2017, North Korean hackers have managed to steal approximately $3 billion worth of digital assets, with $1.7 billion of that being stolen in just the last year.

This information was compiled by experts at Recorded Future. In comparison, the attackers have earned 9.3 times more than the amount of exports from North Korea, with their profits reaching $182 million in 2022.

“Based on our calculations, this amount is equivalent to approximately 5% of North Korea’s economy, or 45% of its military budget,” the analysts stated.

The report also revealed that the hackers first targeted their southern neighbor but have since expanded their attacks to other countries around the world.

The involvement of local authorities has contributed to the increase in illegal activities. “This level of state support allows the hackers to significantly expand their operations, surpassing the capabilities of regular cybercriminals,” the report noted.