Lazarus Group’s $1 Billion BTC Stash Revealed After Conversion, Arkham Reports

The Lazarus Group, North Korea’s notorious hacking collective, has accumulated 13,518 BTC ($1.13 billion) after converting stolen funds, according to Arkham Intelligence. This makes North Korea the fifth-largest nation-state holder of Bitcoin, surpassing Bhutan and El Salvador.

In addition to Bitcoin, Lazarus-controlled wallets hold 13,702 ETH ($26 million), 5,022 BNB ($3 million), $2.2 million in DAI. Various stablecoins and wrapped assets. Recently, the group converted some of its stolen ETH into BTC, further increasing its Bitcoin reserves.

Investor Kyle Chassé voiced frustration over Lazarus’ growing influence, stating, “We grind and HODL just so that a hacker group can steal over $1B in crypto. It’s time for us to take the market back.”

Since 2017, North Korean hackers have stolen over $6 billion in crypto, with reports linking the funds to ballistic missile development.

Beyond theft, Lazarus is deploying new malware to steal credentials and cryptocurrency data. Cybersecurity firm Socket identified six new malware packages, including “BeaverTail,” targeting Solana and Exodus wallets, developer credentials, and JavaScript libraries through typosquatting attacks. On March 13, CertiK reported that Lazarus deposited 400 ETH ($750,000) into Tornado Cash, a crypto-mixing service used to obscure transactions.

In response, OKX suspended its Web3 decentralized exchange aggregator on March 17, citing a coordinated Lazarus attack. The exchange has also implemented real-time tracking and blocking of hacker-linked addresses.

A Bloomberg report revealed that OKX’s DEX aggregator was used to launder $100 million linked to Lazarus’ hacking activities.

With billions in stolen funds, advanced malware campaigns, and large-scale money laundering, Lazarus remains one of the most dangerous threats to the crypto industry.

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