(LEAD) N. Korean hackers blamed for record US$6.36 bln Binance cryptocurrency theft: U.S. firm

North Korean hackers allegedly stole an estimated US$6.36 billion worth of cryptocurrency from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, in what would be the largest cryptocurrency theft on record, according to U.S. blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs. The attack, which occurred on October 30, 2025, is believed to have been carried out by the North Korean hacking group TraderTraitor.

Most of the stolen funds were taken within 20 minutes of the attack, with most of the assets taken in about 36 hours of preparation. Approximately $2.7 billion in stolen assets have been frozen following cooperation among cryptocurrency companies and blockchain operators. However, about $2.4 billion worth of Bitcoin and Ethereum remain in the hackers' control.

TRM Labs warned that the hackers could attempt to conceal the origins of the stolen funds by moving them between various blockchain networks and cryptocurrency trading platforms. Binance CEO Richard Teng stated that the company was working tirelessly to resolve the issue and is committed to covering all losses through its company funds.

The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is aware of the incident and is coordinating with partners to assess the extent of the activity and investigate further.