North Korea’s Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country’s GDP

On-chain analyst Darkfost puts the regime's cumulative crypto haul at nearly half its estimated 2025 economic output North Korea’s Lazarus Group has stolen approximately $11.87 billion in crypto, according to on-chain analyst Darkfost. That figure works out to 45% of the country’s estimated 2025 GDP, based on Bank of Korea data. The numbers behind the heist Darkfost’s estimate compares the group’s cumulative crypto theft against North Korea’s economic output. Against GDP, the stolen sum equals 45%. Against Gross National Income, it equals 35%. Darkfost is not the only one counting. Blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs puts total North Korean crypto theft even higher, at around $12.8 billion. TRM Labs tallies that sum across nearly 100 incidents dating back to 2017. The difference between the two estimates is about $930 million. The more striking number is the recent pace. TRM Labs estimates that North Korean actors stole $7.4 billion in 2026 alone. According to TRM Labs, that represents 85% of all value stolen in crypto hacks globally during the year. One attack, twenty minutes The largest recent incident tied to the group reportedly hit Binance on October 29 and 30, 2026. Roughly...