Chainalysis: North Korean hackers stole $ 1.34 billion in cryptocurrency in 2024

In 2024, hackers affiliated with North Korea stole a record $ 1.34 billion worth of crypto assets, the highest figure ever, according to Chainalysis. According to the analysts' report, the amount is 61% of the total value of stolen financial assets for the year.

Compared to 2023, the total number of cybercrimes increased by 21%, reaching $ 2.2 billion, while the number of incidents increased from 282 to 303. Most of the money was stolen through the compromise of private keys — this method accounted for 43.8% of all attacks.

In particular, in 2024, groups associated with North Korea carried out 47 attacks, stealing $ 1.34 billion. For comparison, in 2023, they carried out 20 attacks with a total loss of $ 660.5 million. Hackers are actively using decentralized exchanges, mining services, and crypto mixers to launder stolen assets.

According to the United Nations, about half of North Korea’s foreign currency revenues are derived from cyberattacks. This confirms the growing role of such crimes in financing the country.