The FBI linked North Korean hackers to the theft of $620 million worth of cryptocurrencies

On Thursday, the US government linked a group of North Korean hackers to the recent theft of $620 million of the popular online video game Axie Infinity.

Hackers, known as the Lazarus Group, would have infiltrated part of the “blockchain” system on which the game is based, on which players receive rewards in the form of cryptocurrencies.

Sky Mavis, the company that developed the game, claimed at the end of March that they had discovered a cyber attack, which resulted in the theft of some $620 million worth of cryptocurrencies.

The US Treasury Department revealed that it blames Lazarus Group for this criminal act by updating its list of sanctions against these hackers, which included a cryptocurrency address used in the cyberattack.

In addition, the FBI confirmed in a statement that, through its investigations, it had succeeded in confirming that this group linked to North Korea is responsible for the robbery.

“The FBI, in coordination with the Treasury Department and other US government partners, will continue to expose and combat North Korea's use of illicit activities, including cybercrime and cryptocurrency theft, to generate funds for the regime,” the text specified.

North Korea has been perpetrating this type of cryptocurrency theft for a long time, in the face of harsh sanctions by the US and the international community that affect the country's economy.

According to cryptocurrency company Chainalysis last January, Pyongyang won some $400 million in this type of theft last year, which, according to the UN, is a “major source of revenue” for North Korea's nuclear and ballistic program.

Following the confirmation of the perpetrators of the robbery, the US Federal Police has assured that it will continue to “combat Pyongyang's use of illicit activities”, including “cybercrime” and cryptocurrency theft to generate income for the country.

“The FBI continues to combat malicious cyber activity, including the threat posed by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the United States and our private sector partners,” the police agency said in a statement.

A report released last February by the United Nations noted that North Korea was financing its missile program thanks to the theft of cryptocurrencies.

The report pointed out that between 2020 and mid-2021 North Koreans would have stolen more than $50 million (about 43.6 million euros), a figure that would be a “significant source of revenue” for the Pyongyang ballistic program.

These computer attacks have been against at least three cryptocurrency exchange companies in North America, Europe and Asia.

(With information from EFE and Europa Press)

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