North Korean IT workers: How state-backed tech teams influence global crypto and cybercrime

When you hear about a North Korean IT workers, state-sponsored programmers and hackers trained by the DPRK government to generate foreign currency through cyber operations. Also known as DPRK cyber units, they’re not just hackers—they’re disciplined, well-funded teams operating under military command. These aren’t lone actors in basements. They’re part of organized units like Lazarus Group and APT38, working directly for North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau. Their mission? Steal enough crypto to fund the regime’s nuclear program after international sanctions cut off traditional revenue.

These teams don’t just break into exchanges. They target DeFi protocols, bridge exploits, and even individual crypto traders using social engineering. In 2022, they stole $620 million from the Axie Infinity Ronin Bridge. In 2024, they hit the Horizon Bridge for $200 million more. Each heist is carefully planned, often taking months of reconnaissance. They use fake job postings to recruit skilled coders abroad, then move them to China or Russia under false identities. Their tools? Custom malware, zero-day exploits, and a deep understanding of how blockchain systems fail—not because they’re weak, but because they’re misunderstood.

What makes them dangerous isn’t just their skill—it’s their patience. While other hackers rush for quick wins, North Korean teams wait. They study wallet patterns. They map out KYC procedures. They wait for a new token launch, then attack the liquidity pool before anyone notices. Their targets aren’t random. They pick projects with weak audits, low team transparency, or no active security team. That’s why so many of the scams and exploits covered here—like fake airdrops, unverified DEXs, and shady token launches—are exactly the kind they exploit. These aren’t just crypto stories. They’re battlegrounds where state actors play a long game.

If you’re trading altcoins, using a new exchange, or chasing an airdrop, you’re already in their crosshairs. The posts below don’t just review tokens or exchanges—they expose the exact vulnerabilities these teams hunt. From BigONE’s $27M breach to the rise of zero-fee platforms with no real security, every article here shows how North Korean IT workers turn gaps in the crypto ecosystem into cash. You won’t find conspiracy theories here. Just facts: who they are, what they do, and how to protect yourself before they strike again.