According to The Block, TRM Labs reported that North Korean hacking groups stole approximately $577 million in crypto assets in the first four months of 2026, accounting for 76% of global hacking losses. Among these, KelpDAO lost $292 million in an attack by TraderTraitor, and Drift Protocol suffered a $285 million loss due to another North Korean sub-group. The stolen funds from Drift remain dormant on Ethereum, while the KelpDAO theft was converted to BTC and laundered via THORChain. Since 2017, North Korea has cumulatively stolen over $6 billion in crypto assets, with its share of global losses rising from under 10% in 2020 to 64% in 2025.
North Korean hackers steal $577 million in crypto in the first four months of 2026
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North Korean hackers stole $577 million in cryptocurrency in the first four months of 2026, according to TRM Labs. These attacks accounted for 76% of global hacking losses. KelpDAO lost $292 million to TraderTraitor, while Drift Protocol lost $285 million to a North Korean subgroup. KelpDAO’s stolen funds were laundered through THORChain, while Drift’s remain on Ethereum. Since 2017, North Korea has stolen over $6 billion in cryptocurrency, with its global share rising to 64% in 2025. Recent protocol updates have failed to prevent such attacks, highlighting gaps in global crypto policy.
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