Key Takeaways:
- The Lazarus Group, which the FBI refers to as “TraderTraitor,” is attempting to launder funds.
- FBI urges crypto firms to freeze transactions related to the hackers.
- Entities with relevant information are encouraged to report to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
The FBI has issued a warning to cryptocurrency node operators, exchanges and private sector partners to coordinate their efforts to recover funds stolen in the massive $1.5 billion Bybit hack. As of February 21, this event has rocked the cryptocurrency space and law enforcement isn’t wasting any time.
⚠️ The FBI confirms Lazarus Group (TraderTraitor) is behind the $1.5B Bybit hack.
The attack originated from a compromised Safe{Wallet} developer machine, allowing a malicious transaction to target Bybit’s multisig cold wallet.
The stolen funds are now being laundered across… pic.twitter.com/4j9jLAsWxl
— The Hacker News (@TheHackersNews) February 27, 2025
Race Against Time: Hacking Group Tries to Clean Up Stolen Cash
The hacker group, called TraderTraitor (and also known as the Lazarus Group, APT38, BlueNoroff, and Stardust Chollima), is quickly converting the stolen assets into Bitcoin and other virtual currencies, the FBI said in a public service announcement. These assets are then spread across many addresses on various blockchains. The FBI is concerned that these assets will now be laundered and ultimately made into fiat currency, a situation that will render their recovery more complex.
According to cryptocurrency analyst EmberCN, since Feb. 21, Bybit hackers have laundered more than 135,000 Ether (ETH). The bulk of these were liquid-staked Ether tokens. Notably, an astonishing 363,900 Ether worth about $825 million at current prices has not moved since the hack.
Bybit 黑客在过去 24 小时洗走了 4.59 万枚 ETH ($1.13 亿)。目前他们一共已经洗走了 13.5 万枚 ETH ($3.35 亿),接近三分之一了。
现在 Bybit 黑客地址里还有 36.39 万枚 ETH ($9 亿)。以目前的频率只需要再有 8~10 天就洗完了。
本文由 #Bitget|@Bitget_zh 赞助 https://t.co/nNwpWP0uEE pic.twitter.com/tpIi3LD7FU
— 余烬 (@EmberCN) February 26, 2025
More News: Bybit Hackers Accelerate $335M Laundering Spree: Can Trust Be Restored?
The price of ETH has been impacted by this event, experiencing fluctuations and a recent decline due to prevailing negative market sentiment.
According to crypto forensics firm Chainalysis, the hackers…
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