North Korean hackers suspected in $351M crypto theft, the largest so far this year
North Korean hackers are suspected of stealing $351 million from the cryptocurrency exchange Bitget in the largest digital heist of 2026. The company has suspended withdrawals while investigating the breach, which experts link to state-sponsored efforts to fund nuclear programs.
Why it matters
This incident underscores the persistent security vulnerabilities in the crypto sector and the role of cybercrime in financing sanctioned state activities.
North Korean hackers are suspected of stealing more than $351 million from the servers of cryptocurrency exchange Bitget during a cyberattack on Thursday.
The cyberattack is the latest in an ongoing spate of high profile hacks targeting the crypto sector. It’s also the largest known heist of digital currency this year, eclipsing a $340 million hack in September that saw the hacker returning all but $47 million of the stolen funds.
In a series of posts on X on Thursday and Friday, Bitget said the breach involved the unauthorized transfer of crypto from its hot wallets, which are connected to the internet and designed to be used for active trading. Bitget has since suspended crypto withdrawals on its network. The company said it has $464 million in its user protection fund, which should cover the costs of the theft.
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