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FBI links Binance’s $6.3 billion theft to North Korean hackers

The FBI tied the $6.3 billion Binance theft to North Korean hackers; Binance says it can cover 90% of the missing assets and will fully reimburse customers.

BitCurrent Newsroom2 min read

FBI links Binance’s $6.3 billion theft to North Korean hackers

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, says it will reimburse customers after the FBI attributed this week’s $6.3 billion theft to North Korean hackers.

  • $6.3 billion in bitcoin and other digital currency was stolen, according to the Associated Press.
  • Binance says it has enough of the same assets to cover 90% of the missing amount.
  • The FBI linked the attack to TraderTraitor, which it also tied to last year’s $1.5 billion Bybit hack.

The FBI said the activity matched TraderTraitor, a group associated with North Korea. It asked exchanges and blockchain firms to block transactions tied to addresses connected with the theft, the Associated Press reported.

What happened to the stolen crypto?

The FBI said its investigation found that TraderTraitor was converting assets mainly into ether. It expects the group may try to move them through decentralised finance platforms and instant swap services.

Binance and its partners had located about $3 billion of affected assets by October 30, according to Reuters. The status of the remaining $3.3 billion was not clear in that report.

The scale is significant, but the reported recovery figure does not establish how much of the stolen crypto will ultimately be returned. The FBI’s request to block related transactions signals an effort to disrupt that movement.

What has Binance promised customers?

Binance said it had enough of the same digital currencies to cover 90% of the missing assets and promised full reimbursement, the AP reported. The exchange’s statement addresses customer losses; it does not explain how or when reimbursements will be made.

Reuters reported that Binance had suspended withdrawals during its response to the breach. The reports reviewed do not confirm that the exchange halted trading across its platform.

What remains unconfirmed?

The FBI’s attribution identifies the actor it believes was responsible. The full mechanics of the breach and the fate of the remaining assets were still unresolved in the reports.

Those details will shape how much of the loss can be recovered and how quickly normal account access returns. For now, the confirmed development is the FBI’s attribution and Binance’s reimbursement pledge.

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