48.2 Billion Yen Bitcoin Theft Linked to North Korean Hacker Group TraderTraitor Amid DMM Bitcoin Investigation

On December 24th, COINOTAG News reported a significant **security breach** involving the Japanese cryptocurrency exchange DMM Bitcoin, where an estimated **48.2 billion yen worth of Bitcoin was stolen**. The incident has been linked to **TraderTraitor**, a hacking group believed to be operating out of **North Korea**. According to the Japanese Police Agency, a thorough joint investigation with the **Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)** and the U.S. Department of Defense’s Cyber Crime Center (DC3) helped identify the perpetrator responsible for the theft of **4,502.9 BTC** that transpired in May 2024. This hacking group is reportedly connected to the notorious **Lazarus Group**, recognized for its sophisticated cyber attacks. The Japanese authorities have emphasized their ongoing collaboration with U.S. agencies to tackle the surge of **cybercrime** linked to North Korean actors. In the wake of this breach, DMM Bitcoin has opted to **suspend its trading platform**, facilitating the transition of assets and customer accounts to SBIVC Trade, expected to finalize by March 2025.