North Korean Hackers Hit DRIFT: $285M Heist
DRIFT/USDT
$45,428,052.96
$0.04292 / $0.03011
Change: $0.01281 (42.54%)
+0.0050%
Longs pay
Contents
North Korean state-sponsored hackers are taking the stage in the cryptocurrency sector with face-to-face social engineering tactics and sharpening their operations. According to a report by security intelligence firm TRMLabs’, DPRK and Lazarus groups accounted for 76% of all crypto scams and hack losses in 2026. These attackers have stolen assets exceeding 6 billion dollars since 2017. Click here for DRIFT detailed analysis.
DRIFT Protocol Hack Details and Technical Analysis
The $285 million heist targeting Drift Protocol was exemplified by months-long real-life meetings; North Korean proxies sat at the table with protocol employees to gain trust. TRMLabs Policies and Government Relations Global Director Ari Redbord described it as “beyond remote keyboard operations.” Hackers converted the stolen funds to USDC, bridged to Ethereum, then converted to ETH and idled it – consistent with DPRK’s multi-year laundering model.
- Total DPRK Losses: $600 million in 2026 (76% share)
- DRIFT Hack Flow: USDC → ETH Bridge → Idle ETH
- Similar Cases: KelpDAO (292M$), Wasabi Protocol key breaches
DRIFT Delisted from Upbit and Bithumb: Latest Development
Breaking news: $DRIFT has been delisted from Upbit and Bithumb exchanges. This move could trigger post-hack liquidity issues and loss of trust. After KelpDAO, lending platforms like Aave and Celsius such as AAVE were affected, and the sector activated support commitments to alleviate bad debt burdens. Check current data for DRIFT futures.
Frequently Asked Questions About DRIFT
- Why was the DRIFT hack carried out with physical tactics? Face-to-face trust building for social engineering surpassed remote access.
- How will DRIFT delisting affect the price? Liquidity drop may increase volatility, support levels are critical.
- How are North Korean attacks changing DeFi? Basic measures like multisig and timelock are becoming mandatory.
This evolution indicates that North Korea is focusing its crypto attacks; the sector should invest in physical security.