THE GUARDIAN · 2026-10-30 17:38 UTC

How crypto hacking funds isolated North Korea's nuclear programme

North Korea's elite hacking units, including the Lazarus Group, have stolen an estimated $3bn in cryptocurrency between 2017 and 2023, with 17 suspected attacks in 2023 alone valued at $750m. UN experts estimate crypto theft generates approximately half of North Korea's foreign currency income, with one country estimating it funds 40% of its weapons of mass destruction programmes. Cryptocurrency remains a target because traditional banks have stronger defences, while the crypto sector's lighter regulation makes it more vulnerable to theft.

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