U.S. links North Korean hacker group to Axie Infinity crypto theft
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Loading... - Lucia Manzo
- 15 Apr 2022
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The United States has linked North Korean hackers to the theft of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency tied to the popular online game Axie Infinity, the U.S. Treasury Department said on Thursday.
Ronin, a blockchain network that lets users transfer crypto in and out of the game, said digital cash worth almost $615 million was stolen on March 23.
No one has explicitly assigned blame for the hack, but on Thursday the U.S. Treasury identified a digital currency address used by the hackers as being under the control of a North Korean hacking group often dubbed “Lazarus.”
“The United States is aware that the DPRK has increasingly relied on illicit activities — including cybercrime — to generate revenue for its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs as it tries to evade robust U.S. and U.N. sanctions,” a Treasury Department spokesperson said, using the initials of North Korea’s official name.
The spokesperson warned that those transacting with the wallet risk exposure to U.S. sanctions.
Blockchain analytics firms including Chainalysis and Elliptic said the designation confirmed that North Korea was behind the break-in.
Aleksander Larsen, the co-founder of Sky Mavis, which makes Axie Infinity, declined comment. CrowdStrike, which was hired by Sky Mavis to investigate the breach, also declined comment.
A post on the official Ronin blog said that the FBI had attributed the hack to the Lazarus Group and that the U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned the address that received the stolen funds.
The United States says the Lazarus hacking group is controlled by the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea’s primary intelligence bureau. It has been accused of involvement in the “WannaCry” ransomware attacks, hacking of international banks and customer accounts, and the 2014 cyberattacks on Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Hacks have long plagued crypto platforms. The Ronin hack was one of the largest cryptocurrency heists on record. Read More...
