Lazarus Group crypto trade
North Korea’s Lazarus Group made a $2.5M profit trading crypto, showing skills beyond hacking.
- Lazarus Group sold 40.78 WBTC for $3.51 million
- The crypto was originally bought in February 2023
- They gained 1,857 ETH spread across three wallets
From Hackers to Traders: Lazarus Group’s $2.5M Profit
North Korea’s Lazarus Group, notorious for high-profile crypto hacks, just demonstrated they’re not only capable of stealing digital assets — they can trade them too.
In a recent move, the group sold 40.78 Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) for a total of $3.51 million. What’s surprising is that this wasn’t stolen crypto. The WBTC was initially purchased back in February 2023, showing a calculated and strategic investment approach.
This trade brought in an impressive $2.51 million in profit, highlighting that the Lazarus Group is not just a cybercriminal operation — they’re also becoming increasingly savvy crypto investors.
Strategic Wallet Movement Raises Eyebrows
After the sale, the profit — totaling 1,857 ETH — was split across three different wallets. This kind of distribution suggests a level of operational sophistication, aimed at reducing traceability and enhancing anonymity.
Security analysts are now paying closer attention to the Lazarus Group’s evolving tactics. Their ability to both invest in and profit from the crypto market opens up new concerns about how sanctioned groups can exploit decentralized finance (DeFi) systems.
What This Means for the Crypto World
This shift in behavior — from direct hacks to profit-focused trading — could represent a broader trend among malicious actors. It’s a reminder that blockchain transparency doesn’t always equal security. As groups like Lazarus diversify their tactics, crypto investors and platforms will need to stay more vigilant than ever.
Authorities and blockchain analytics firms are likely to increase surveillance on such wallet movements. The Lazarus Group’s $2.5 million gain may be just the beginning of a new phase in crypto crime evolution.
