North Korean hackers steal $7.61 billion crypto via withdrawal signer hijacks in 2026

Blockchain intelligence firm BitOK reports that North Korean hackers stole an estimated $7.61 billion in cryptocurrency across 38 incidents between January and October 2026. Rather than exploiting code or smart contracts, the attackers consistently hijacked the people, devices, and signing services that authorize withdrawals. Freezes and seizures recovered $2.86 billion, leaving the remainder largely funneled through rapid swaps and cross-chain protocols. Open article →