North Korean hackers stole $3.1 million from a TRON user
Date: 2025-03-03 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: BUSINESS
On February 28, blockchain analyst ZachXBT revealed that unknown individuals hacked a crypto wallet on the TRON network and withdrew $3.1 million in Tether (USDT). The stolen assets were transferred to the Ethereum network using a cross-chain bridge, converted to ETH, and laundered through Tornado Cash.
The expert linked this crime to the North Korean group Lazarus Group, as the scammers used a crypto wallet that was involved in the attack on the Fantom Foundation in October 2023. Previously, ZachXBT investigations pointed to the same group's involvement in the Bybit heist, from which hackers withdrew $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency.
Analysis of transactions conducted by Lazarus Group confirmed that they operate not only on the TRON network, but also actively use Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, and BNB Smart Chain.
To minimize losses, Bybit launched a reward program, allocating $140 million to find the stolen funds. As part of this campaign, $4.3 million has already been paid to reward hunters, thanks to which it was possible to freeze assets worth $42.9 million.
However, analyst Yu Jin reported that on March 1, the attackers again began laundering the stolen funds. According to him, more than 54% of the stolen Ethereum has already been withdrawn from the control of the exchange, which makes the return of the remaining assets unlikely.
