North Korean-backed hackers stole $1.7 billion (£1.4 billion) in cryptocurrency in 2022, according to blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis. This nearly quadruples the country’s previous high for cryptocurrency theft, which was $429 million in 2021. The loot also made up 44% of the $3.8bn stolen in crypto hacks last year, which the firm called “the biggest year ever for crypto hacking”. According to experts, the country is turning to crypto theft to fund its nuclear arsenal in the face of harsh sanctions.
