$21M Crypto Hack Hits SBI: North Korean Links Suspected

- Hackers stole $21 million from Japan's SBI Crypto in a major security breach. - The hackers laundered Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash, with possible links to North Korea. On October 1, 2025, The Block reported that hackers exploited Japan's SBI Crypto, a subsidiary of the SBI Group, for $21 million. The attackers stole digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Dogecoin, and Bitcoin Cash, and subsequently laundered the funds using Tornado Cash, a well-known cryptocurrency mixer. According to crypto investigator ZachXBT, the laundering method matched patterns used by North Korean-affiliated hackers in previous attacks, a finding that raises concerns over their continued involvement in crypto-related cybercrime. In addition, blockchain security firm Cyvers played an instrumental role in investigating the breach. The incident underscores the persistent security challenges plaguing digital asset platforms and financial institutions within the crypto sector. However, SBI Group has yet to issue a public statement addressing the breach or outlining steps to mitigate future risks. As of 21:09 UTC on October 1, data from CoinMarketCap showed Bitcoin (BTC) trading at $117,602.23, with a 2.5% increase in 24-hour trading volume. Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) was priced at $4,333.28, with its volume up 3.2%. Other stolen assets also recorded increases in trading volume: Litecoin (LTC) was valued at $112.00 (up 4.3%), Dogecoin (DOGE) stood at $0.247 (up 5.5%), and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) was trading at $587.72 (up 4.6%).