Kraken Catches North Korean Hacker Posing as Job Applicant in Major Crypto Security Breach
By: coinchapter|2025/05/03 06:00:05
0
Share
Kraken, a major crypto exchange, exposed a North Korean hacker who applied for a job using a fake identity. The incident was revealed in a May 1 blog post. The person posed as an engineering candidate named Steven Smith. Kraken’s security and recruitment teams moved the candidate through the hiring process to investigate. They later confirmed that the applicant was part of a wider network tied to North Korean state-sponsored cybercrime. The person used a suspicious email connected to known North Korean hacker activity. The candidate changed their name during interviews and altered their voice several times. Kraken also detected signs of outside coaching. Fake Identities and Technical Red Flags Detected An internal Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) investigation exposed the use of multiple fake identities by the applicant. Several of these identities had prior links to crypto firms. One of them appeared on the U.S. sanctions list. Kraken identified clear inconsistencies during the process. The applicant accessed remote Mac computers through a Virtual Private Network (VPN). They also submitted altered identification documents. These actions raised concerns about planned infiltration. During the final interview, Kraken’s Chief Security Officer Nick Percoco questioned the applicant. The hacker failed to confirm their location or citizenship. Percoco told CBS. Huione Group Accused of Aiding North Korean Crypto Crimes The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) proposed banning the Huione Group from the U.S. financial system. The Cambodia-based group allegedly helped North Korean hackers move stolen funds. U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, FinCEN found that Huione laundered over $4 billion between August 2021 and January 2025. Their platforms—Huione Pay, Huione Crypto, and Haowang Guarantee—were used for payment services connected to crypto crimes. The ban would block Huione from accessing U.S. correspondent banking services. Officials said this would weaken DPRK cybercrime operations and disrupt money laundering channels. DPRK Hackers Use Social Engineering and Malware to Target Crypto North Korea-linked hackers stole more than $659 million from crypto firms in 2024. The U.S., Japan, and South Korea released a joint statement confirming these incidents. The statement said that hackers used social engineering, fake job applications, and malware such as AppleJeus and TraderTraitor to access internal systems. North Korean IT workers were also identified as insider threats to private crypto companies. These workers often apply for remote roles, pretending to be citizens of other countries. Once hired, they can access sensitive data or move funds internally. North Korean Lazarus Group Tied to Major Crypto Theft Cases Moreover , the Lazarus Group, North Korea’s state-backed hacker unit, has been linked to several large attacks. These include crypto thefts from Bybit, Upbit, Radiant Capital, and DMM Bitcoin. Blockchain researcher ZachXBT found that some decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols rely heavily on transactions from North Korea. In some cases, nearly 100% of monthly traffic came from DPRK-linked wallets. Above all, Kraken’s exposure of the job applicant confirms the growing pattern of North Korean hacker groups targeting the crypto industry. The incident adds to the list of DPRK-linked cyber attacks that use employment and social engineering as entry points.
You may also like

A company that was on the verge of bankruptcy has just surpassed Bitcoin in market value
In this wave of AI, capital is clearly more inclined to pay a premium for segments that have real orders, visible supply bottlenecks, and quantifiable profits, which also puts the Crypto AI narrative under more direct scrutiny regarding the certainty of value realization.

B.AI partners with MiniMax to launch a limited-time free experience of M3, enabling zero-threshold implementation of Agentic productivity through full-stack infrastructure
B.AI and MiniMax launch a limited-time free offer for M3, allowing access to top-tier large model core computing power with no threshold.

The second half of the computing power battle: Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger reveals how AI is reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger's latest discussion: The AI computing power battle has gone beyond the single-point competition of GPUs; the ultimate trump card is to comprehensively restructure the semiconductor supply chain and solve the systemic bottlenecks in advanced manufacturing.

WEEX Live mode: Monitor 20 trading pairs at once and trade like a pro
WEEX Live mode: Multi-screen desktop layout for 20 pairs, TradingView charts, one-click layout, and smart guides. Trade like a pro now.

Morning Report | Secret Network loses $4.67 million due to cross-chain vulnerability; Michael Saylor releases Bitcoin Tracker information again, may disclose increased holdings data next week
Overview of Important Market Events on June 21

Kalshi's biggest competitor is not Polymarket
The competitive logic of the prediction market has changed.

WEEX Makes Affiliate Access Easier on the Web and in the App
WEEX now provides a smoother way to access affiliate-related pages on the web and in the app. Users can find the Affiliate entry more easily and go to the right page based on their login and affiliate status.

Customize Your Spot Trading Page: Drag Modules and Move the Order Panel Where You Want It
Set up your WEEX Spot trading page around the way you trade. Drag supported modules, show or hide key panels, move the order panel to the left or right, and use “Reset layout” at any time to return to the default setup.

Perp DEX: The Next Generation Exchange "War"
This "war" has just begun.

10 Counterintuitive Insights on Latin American Payments
10 conclusions about payments that contradict mainstream beliefs: crypto cards rely on high-net-worth individuals rather than retail, QR codes are replacing cards, stablecoin profits are competing to go to zero, and Latin American regulation is actually 5 years ahead of the United States.

The AI gamble of mining companies: Valuations enter a phase of differentiation, and it's hard to turn the tide
This gamble of transforming into AI is testing the financial strength and execution capability of mining companies.

A letter from Alliance to entrepreneurs: Written on the occasion of Cursor selling for 60 billion dollars
Great companies are forged before they become obvious.

Stablecoins Finally Find Real Returns: On-Chain Reinsurance Re Explained | Interview with Re Founder Karan Saroya
This on-chain reinsurance platform absorbs stablecoins from DeFi, uses them as collateral to underwrite for American insurance companies, collects premiums, and returns the profits to on-chain depositors.

The impossible triangle is simply a pseudo problem
A long time ago, the cryptocurrency industry found its true purpose. But ironically, the path it built for this purpose excluded almost everyone who would actually use it.

Will MicroStrategy fall into a death spiral? What will the macro trend be in the second half of the year?
The cryptocurrency industry may gradually shift from the hype of native altcoins to real asset tokenization, on-chain machine economy, and a more mature industrialization phase.

Blockchain Capital Partner: The Core Secret of Arbitrage
On cold starts, breaking the circle, and the toughest hurdle for founders to overcome.

STRC unanchored by 11%, can the perpetual motion machine of Strategy still operate?
Beyond the leverage crunch, what is even more concerning is the liquidity reserves of the Strategy.

Bitcoin Market Analysis 2026: Can BTC Reach $150K by Year-End?
Bitcoin price prediction 2026: Can BTC hit $150,000 by year-end? Explore Fed policy, Kevin Warsh's stance, Bitcoin ETF flows, exchange data, and BTC market forecasts.
A company that was on the verge of bankruptcy has just surpassed Bitcoin in market value
In this wave of AI, capital is clearly more inclined to pay a premium for segments that have real orders, visible supply bottlenecks, and quantifiable profits, which also puts the Crypto AI narrative under more direct scrutiny regarding the certainty of value realization.
B.AI partners with MiniMax to launch a limited-time free experience of M3, enabling zero-threshold implementation of Agentic productivity through full-stack infrastructure
B.AI and MiniMax launch a limited-time free offer for M3, allowing access to top-tier large model core computing power with no threshold.
The second half of the computing power battle: Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger reveals how AI is reshaping the global semiconductor supply chain
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger's latest discussion: The AI computing power battle has gone beyond the single-point competition of GPUs; the ultimate trump card is to comprehensively restructure the semiconductor supply chain and solve the systemic bottlenecks in advanced manufacturing.
WEEX Live mode: Monitor 20 trading pairs at once and trade like a pro
WEEX Live mode: Multi-screen desktop layout for 20 pairs, TradingView charts, one-click layout, and smart guides. Trade like a pro now.
Morning Report | Secret Network loses $4.67 million due to cross-chain vulnerability; Michael Saylor releases Bitcoin Tracker information again, may disclose increased holdings data next week
Overview of Important Market Events on June 21
Kalshi's biggest competitor is not Polymarket
The competitive logic of the prediction market has changed.
Customer Support:@weikecs
Business Cooperation:@weikecs
Quant Trading & MM:bd@weex.com
VIP Program:support@weex.com
