Nikkei: 89% of the 2026 cryptocurrency theft incidents involved North Korean hackers

According to the Nikkei, data from Chainalysis shows that in reported cryptocurrency theft incidents in 2026, 89% involved North Korean hackers, compared to 15% in 2021.

The report states that North Korean hackers are increasingly using generative AI to create fake documents and impersonate technicians. The South Korean government estimates that more than 8,000 personnel are employed by North Korean authorities for this purpose.