Chainalysis News

North Korean Hackers Stalk Crypto Startups Scrimping on Security

It’s every cryptocurrency project’s nightmare: Well-resourced hackers — perhaps backed by a rogue state like North Korea — strike out of nowhere, dismantling cyber defenses and making off with millions of dollars in customer funds. Many crypto outfits, large and …

Ransomware Hackers Stole More Than $1 Billion in 2023

Ransomware gangs stole more than $1 billion in 2023, the largest amount ever recorded, according to a report published Wednesday by blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis Inc. With ransomware hacks, cybercriminals block access to a victims’ data or files until they …

North Korean-Linked Hackers Are Targeting Crypto Platforms More But Stealing Less

The number of North Korean-linked hacks of cryptocurrency platforms rose to a record high in 2023, though the actual amount of funds stolen dropped around 40%, a report Wednesday from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis Inc. showed. In a series of …

Blockchain Analysts Suspect N. Korea-Linked Hackers Behind $70M Crypto Theft

Blockchain researchers say North Korea-linked hackers are likely behind a $70 million theft from crypto exchange CoinEx. CoinEx, which says it is based in Hong Kong, said on Tuesday on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that wallets …

Crypto Ransomware Attacks Rise in First Half of 2023: Chainalysis

Crypto crime fell overall in the first six months of 2023, but the volume of payments to ransomware attackers surged and is on track for its second-biggest annual total on record, blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said on Wednesday [July 12]. …

North Korean Hackers Stole $100 Million in Recent Cryptocurrency Heist: Analysts

North Korean hackers stole more than $100 million worth of digital currency in a recent heist affecting users of the Atomic Wallet service, cryptocurrency analytics firm Elliptic said Tuesday. In a blog post, Elliptic said that more than 5,500 digital …

Crypto Thefts Hit Record $3.8B in 2022 on Surge in North Korea Hacking: Report

Thieves stole a record $3.8 billion worth of cryptocurrency in 2022 as sanctions on North Korea drove a surge in suspected hacking by the Asian nation. Overall crypto losses increased from $3.3 billion stolen in 2021, blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis …

Fewer Companies Are Paying Ransoms to Hackers, Researchers Say

Fewer companies that are infected with ransomware are coughing up extortion payments demanded by hackers, according to new research from Chainalysis Inc. In findings published on Thursday, the blockchain forensics firm estimated that ransom payments — which are almost always …

Crypto Crime Hits Record $20B in 2022, Report Says

Illicit use of cryptocurrencies hit a record $20.1 billion last year as transactions involving companies targeted by U.S. sanctions skyrocketed, data from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis showed on Thursday. The cryptocurrency market floundered in 2022, as risk appetite diminished and …

Reuters: Crypto Exchange Binance Helped Iran Firms Trade $8B Despite U.S. Sanctions

Crypto giant Binance has processed Iranian transactions with a value of $8 billion since 2018 despite U.S. sanctions intended to cut Iran off from the global financial system, blockchain data show. Almost all the funds, some $7.8 billion, flowed between …