UN: North Korea launders stolen cryptocurrency through Russia and Asian countries
Date: 2025-10-27 Author: Gabriel Deangelo Categories: IN WORLD
United Nations experts reported that North Korean hackers have focused their attacks on large centralized cryptocurrency exchanges. To this end, they are actively collaborating with Russian criminal groups specializing in ransomware development, according to the UN's MSMT.
According to the report, North Korea has approximately 2,000 programmers working under false names in Russia, Cambodia, Laos, and several African countries. Their main goal is to generate foreign currency income and then transfer the funds to North Korea, where they are used to finance military projects.
The experts paid special attention to the growing use of artificial intelligence by North Korean cyber units. AI technologies are used at virtually every stage of attacks, from reconnaissance and phishing operations to source code analysis and subsequent laundering of stolen funds. Analysts have noted that attackers are using models like ChatGPT and Claude to find vulnerabilities in blockchains, study the weaknesses of crypto exchanges, and adapt successful hacking techniques to other ecosystems.
The UN warns that without international coordination and the implementation of unified cybersecurity standards, the scale of such attacks will only increase. This, according to experts, poses a serious threat not only to the digital asset industry but also to global financial stability.
Earlier, Elliptic reported that North Korean hackers stole over $2 billion in cryptocurrency in the first nine months of this year. This amount was a record high. Analysts estimate that Bitcoin may have accounted for 20% to 35% of the stolen funds.
Researchers emphasize that such actions by North Korea are turning cryptocurrency into a tool for evading international sanctions. As a result, digital assets are being used not only to fund military programs but also to strengthen the regime's economic resilience.
The UN intends to continue the investigation and calls on governments to join forces to monitor and block suspicious transactions. Experts note that international cooperation remains key in combating the growing threat of cryptocurrency-related cybercrime.
