North Korea Denies US Claim of $6 Billion Binance Crypto Heist

North Korea denied U.S. accusations that it stole more than $6 billion in cryptocurrency from Binance. The FBI said the theft occurred on or around Oct 29 and linked it to the TradeTraitor hacking campaign. FBI officials said the hackers turned most of the stolen assets into Ethereum and are likely using DeFi platforms and instant‑swap services to launder the funds. U.S. authorities have asked crypto exchanges and blockchain services to block transactions tied to the addresses used in the theft. Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, said it will absorb the full financial impact and has already replaced about 90 % of the stolen assets, promising to cover the rest. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, called the U.S. claim “absurd rhetoric” and a “grave political provocation” in a statement through the Korean Central News Agency. She said the accusation misleads the international public by blaming North Korea for cyber crimes worldwide. The exchange’s decision to cover losses aims to protect users and restore confidence after the hack sent shockwaves through the crypto industry. North Korean hackers have previously been blamed for the $1.5 billion Bybit attack last year and a 2022 theft of about $620 million. ## Context The incident highlights how state‑linked hacking groups target crypto platforms for large‑scale theft, and why regulators are urging tighter monitoring of blockchain transactions to prevent money‑laundering.