A recent incident has shown how DPRK hackers lost 46,300 XRP worth approximately $121,000 due to a blunder during a cryptocurrency transaction.
DPRK's Transaction Error
Hackers associated with the DPRK reportedly lost a large sum of XRP due to carelessness. The mistake occurred on February 4, 2025, when they attempted to transfer stolen XRP to the OKX exchange but failed to include a crucial component: the destination tag. This tag is crucial for identifying the recipient of the transaction, and without it, the exchange cannot allocate the funds to any particular account.
DPRK's Crypto Hacks
The lost XRP is believed to have been stolen in a prior hack as part of DPRK's strategy to circumvent international sanctions through digital asset theft. North Korean hacker groups like the infamous Lazarus Group have been targeting exchanges and DeFi platforms, amassing billions in stolen digital assets over the years.
Technical Strategies of Hackers
According to analyst ZachXBT, one of the techniques these hackers use involves gaining remote employment opportunities. They pose as IT professionals to gain access to sensitive data, which is then leaked to their accomplices.
The incident highlights potential vulnerabilities in the cryptocurrency realm and underscores the DPRK hackers' persistent resolve in using varied and sophisticated strategies to accomplish their targets.
