North Korean hacking groups have stolen approximately $577 million in cryptocurrency during the first quarter of 2026, according to a report by TRM Labs. This figure represents 76% of global crypto losses attributed to hacking in the same period. The losses were primarily due to two major incidents in April: KelpDAO lost $292 million to the TraderTraitor group, and Drift Protocol suffered a $285 million loss to another North Korean sub-group.
The attacks utilized different laundering methods. The funds from Drift Protocol remain largely dormant on Ethereum, while the KelpDAO assets were swiftly converted to Bitcoin via THORChain, with Chinese intermediaries facilitating further laundering. TRM Labs highlighted that since 2017, North Korean actors have stolen over $6 billion in crypto assets, with their share of global losses increasing significantly over the years.
North Korean Hackers Steal $577 Million in Crypto in Early 2026
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