North Korea-linked hackers suspected in massive $300 million crypto heist

Kathmandu. Amid growing global cybersecurity challenges, a notorious hacking group linked to North Korea is suspected of stealing approximately $300 million in cryptocurrency. According to affected parties, this incident is one of the largest known crypto heists of the year, raising fresh questions about the security of digital financial systems.

This event is being viewed as the latest cyberattack tied to North Korea. A United Nations panel reports that North Korea has been using cryptocurrency stolen through such sophisticated cybercrimes to support its nuclear weapons program.

According to the digital currency news platform CoinDesk, the theft from the KelpDAO vault on Saturday is the largest crypto exploit of 2026 so far. Details released on Tuesday indicate that unauthorized access was established to two blockchain servers operated by the technology platform LayerZero during the hack.

KelpDAO stated that this access made it possible to 'withdraw' Ethereum-related crypto tokens from the system. In a statement, LayerZero confirmed that losses of approximately $290 million occurred on April 18, 2026.

Initial indicators regarding the attack suggest the involvement of a highly sophisticated state-sponsored group, with mentions that North Korea's Lazarus Group could potentially be responsible. However, the company has attempted to reassure users, stating that other assets or systems were not affected.

Blockchain technology allows transactions without intermediaries like governments or banks, a system known as Decentralized Finance (DeFi). However, experts say the complexity of this structure makes identifying and controlling such cyberattacks difficult.

According to Henri Arslanian, co-founder of Nine Blocks Capital Management, such incidents create further fear for new users entering the DeFi sector. He claimed the attack was the work of North Korea's Lazarus Group, noting that only a limited number of groups worldwide possess the capability to execute a hack of this scale.

Previously, a 2024 United Nations study estimated that North Korea had stolen over $3 billion in cryptocurrency since 2017.

Similarly, last year, the United States accused North Korea of stealing $1.5 billion in digital assets, which was considered one of the largest crypto heists in history.

The recurrence of such incidents has intensified the international debate on cybersecurity and raised further concerns regarding the future of the digital economy.