By Ouinex
In a chilling twist to global crypto headlines, North Korea has emerged as the third-largest holder of Bitcoin thanks to an elite cyber-hacking unit called Lazarus.
Estimates suggest the group controls around 13,580 BTC, worth roughly £886 million, gained through sophisticated cyberattacks targeting global crypto exchanges and financial platforms.
Western intelligence agencies believe the funds are being funnelled directly into North Korea’s military programmes, including nuclear and missile development.
The revelations raise alarming questions about crypto’s role in state-level cyber warfare, and how decentralised finance can be co-opted by bad actors.
The UK and US, both ahead of North Korea in Bitcoin holdings, are now reportedly tightening blockchain forensics and sanctions enforcement to combat crypto-financed terrorism.
