North Korea stole over $659M in crypto heists during 2024, deployed fake job seekers

North Korean-backed Lazarus Group carried out multiple cryptocurrency thefts in 2024 totaling at least $659 million — notable incidents include $235M from WazirX, $308M from DMM Bitcoin, $50M each from Upbit and Radiant Capital, and $16.13M from Rain Management. The joint U.S.-Japan-Republic of Korea statement attributes the attacks to Lazarus, citing social engineering, TraderTraitor-style crypto malware, and insider infiltration by North Korean IT workers posing as job candidates; authorities warn blockchain and freelance sectors to review advisories and hiring risks.