North Korean Hacker Group Implicated in 60M Dollars Alphapo Security Breach

The notorious Lazarus North Korean hacker group is once again linked to a significant hack, this time impacting Alphapo, a major payment processor associated with gambling websites and e-commerce platforms.

North Korean Hacker Group Implicated in 60M Dollars Alphapo Security Breach

The exploit allegedly commenced on July 22, as ZachXBT, a crypto investigator, reported that several hot wallets linked to Alphapo were drained, resulting in over $23 million in losses. The hack involved Ethereum (ETH), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tron (TRX) transactions. Initial estimates suggested that the Lazarus group managed to steal $6 million worth of USDT tokens, $108,000 in USDC, 2,500 ETH, and various other tokens, which were subsequently swapped into a range of stablecoins and Bitcoin using the Avalanche network. The precise amount of native Bitcoin hacked from Alphapo’s hot wallets has yet to be officially confirmed, with ZachXBT stating, “It remains unclear at this time how much BTC was stolen.”

Subsequently, Alphapo fell victim to another breach, which was uncovered later in the week, revealing an additional $37 million worth of stolen Bitcoin and Tron, bringing the total losses to $60 million.

While the exact details surrounding the heist remain unclear, ZachXBT noted that Lazarus typically leaves a distinct fingerprint on-chain, implying that the North Korean Hacker group is likely responsible for this operation.

This incident raises concerns about the sophistication and audacity of cyberattacks orchestrated by Lazarus, particularly in the realm of cryptocurrencies and blockchain networks. As investigations continue, the crypto community and authorities must remain vigilant against such threats to ensure the security and integrity of the digital asset ecosystem.