{
  "id": 17654370,
  "title": "North Korean hackers launder $242 million of Binance loot via Tron as FBI presses THORChain: analyst",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/north-korean-hackers-launder-242-million-of-binance-loot-via-tron-as",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-11-01T18:25:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Block",
    "slug": "the-block",
    "url": "https://www.theblock.co/news/defi/2026-11-01-north-korean-hackers-launder-242-million-of-binance-loot-via-tron-as-fbi-presses-thorchain-analyst-432257"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The FBI announced on October 31 that North Korean hackers, operating under the name \"TraderTraitor,\" were responsible for the theft of more than $6 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance on or around October 29. While the FBI stated the stolen amount exceeded $6 billion, Arabian Post reports that TRM Labs estimated the theft at approximately $6.36 billion. Cointelegraph reports the FBI identified the specific malicious cyber activity as TraderTraitor and noted that investigators have observed the hackers converting most of the stolen assets into Ether.\n\nTo disrupt laundering activities, the FBI is coordinating with the US Secret Service and the Internal Revenue Service’s Criminal Investigation division. The agency has urged private-sector entities, including DeFi services, instant exchanges, and THORNode operators, to block transactions involving addresses used by TraderTraitor actors. The FBI expects hackers to move into more advanced laundering stages using instant swap services and DeFi.\n\nThe Block reports that approximately $140 million of stolen funds were moved off the Tron network using crypto bridges, including Chainflip, Symbiosis, and THORChain, with Relay handling the largest portion at $48 million.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "CBC News",
        "title": "Binance says billions replaced from hack that FBI blames on North Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/binance-says-billions-replaced-from-hack-that-fbi-blames-on-north",
        "published": "2026-10-31T22:54:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Japan News by The Yomiuri Shimbun",
        "title": "North Korea Says Defence Research Institutes Tested Major Weapon System",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/north-korea-says-defence-research-institutes-tested-major-weapon-17596236",
        "published": "2026-11-01T01:30:42.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "North Korea says defence research institutes tested major weapon system",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/north-korea-says-defence-research-institutes-tested-major-weapon",
        "published": "2026-11-01T01:35:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arutz Sheva - Israel National News",
        "title": "FBI: North Korea behind theft of over $6 billion from Binance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/fbi-north-korea-behind-theft-of-over-6-billion-from-binance",
        "published": "2026-11-01T01:45:28.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "North Korea says its latest cluster bomb can devastate 13 hectares",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/north-korea-says-its-latest-cluster-bomb-can-devastate-13-hectares",
        "published": "2026-11-01T02:18:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "The 'Bridge to Nowhere' finally connects China and North Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/the-bridge-to-nowhere-finally-connects-china-and-north-korea",
        "published": "2026-11-01T02:32:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Guardian",
        "title": "Binance says 90% of losses from $6.3bn hack covered as FBI says North Korea behind attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/binance-says-90-of-losses-from-6-3bn-hack-covered-as-fbi-says-north",
        "published": "2026-11-01T02:41:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Binance resumes withdrawals after US$6.3b heist blamed on North Korea",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/binance-resumes-withdrawals-after-us-6-3b-heist-blamed-on-north-korea",
        "published": "2026-11-01T07:45:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Arabian Post",
        "title": "FBI identifies North Korean hackers behind Binance theft",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/fbi-identifies-north-korean-hackers-behind-binance-theft",
        "published": "2026-11-01T14:15:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}