Binance reveals hackers used fake job interviews, malicious code in $6.3bn heist

The $6.3 billion theft from Binance's cryptocurrency platform was carried out over a four-hour period on October 29, according to a detailed investigation released on Tuesday. The hackers used a combination of fake job interviews and malicious code to gain access to the exchange's systems. The FBI has attributed the attack to North Korea-affiliated hackers, though Pyongyang has denied these allegations.

Around $2.85 billion of the stolen funds have been frozen, preventing the attackers from using or converting them. The attack's success was due to malware that allowed the hackers to establish a connection with Binance's internal systems. The company's co-CEO stated that the exchange was in "very strong financial health" following the heist, and that the company was taking steps to retain its users.

North Korea has been accused of being responsible for the theft, with Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, dismissing the US allegations as "absurd rhetoric." Analysts suggest that cryptocurrency theft is a key source of funding for North Korea's weapons programs, and the Binance heist could be a significant blow to the regime's finances.