FaceStealer

FBI Seizes $1.2 Billion in Cryptocurrency Linked to Record $6.3 Billion Binance Heist Attributed to North Korean TraderTraitor Group

The FBI announced the seizure of more than $1.2 billion in cryptocurrency stolen from Binance in what is considered the largest crypto heist in history. The theft, totaling approximately $6.3 billion, has been attributed to the North Korean hacking group known as TraderTraitor. U.S. authorities and private sector partners have now frozen over $2.7 billion of the stolen funds, with the Justice Department obtaining court authorization to seize or restrain an additional $1.2 billion. In a related development, the FBI also attributed a separate social engineering operation called FaceStealer to North Korea, which resulted in the theft of $400 million in cryptocurrency over 18 months through hijacked messaging apps and deepfake videos. The U.S. government typically files forfeiture claims to determine legitimate ownership of recovered assets. Officials continue to link North Korean cyber operations to funding for the regime's weapons programs.