North Korea Launders $2.85B of $6.43B Binance Hack Loot via 12,000 Wallets, One Every 25 Seconds

North Korean hackers are rapidly laundering stolen cryptocurrency from the $6.43 billion Binance hack, moving funds through a new wallet every 25 seconds, according to blockchain analytics. Of the total stolen, $2.85 billion has been frozen or seized, a stark contrast to the Bybit hack where only about 3% was recovered. The automated laundering operation spans approximately 12,000 wallets, demonstrating the scale and sophistication of North Korea's cybercrime infrastructure. This matters because the stolen funds are believed to finance North Korea's weapons programs, and the speed of laundering makes recovery increasingly difficult. The high recovery rate in the Binance case is notable, but the ongoing laundering highlights the challenges exchanges and law enforcement face in tracing illicit funds. The use of automation and thousands of wallets signals an evolving threat that could outpace current security measures.