The United Nations Security Council's Sanctions Committee on North Korea has accused the country of using a Hong Kong-based blockchain firm as a front to launder money. As South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo reported on Nov. 6, the committee conducted an investigation into the various strategies allegedly employed by the North to evade sanctions using cryptocurrencies and other means. The Committee’s allegations The Committee alleges that “Marine China” — a blockchain-focused shipping and logistics firm registered in Hong Kong — was created by North Korean actors; its owner and sole investor is purportedly an individual named Julian Kim, who also …

The notorious North Korean hackers known as the Lazarus APT Group have created another malware targeting Apple Macs that masquerades behind a fake cryptocurrency firm. Apple Mac security specialist and principal security researcher at Jamf Patrick Wardle published a blog post on Oct. 12 outlining the nature of the malware, revealed by MalwareHunterTeam (MHT) researchers the previous day. Closely related to earlier macOS crypto-malware MHT and Wardle have warned that at the time of their warning, the malware was undetected by any engines on VirusTotal and that the sample appears to be closely related to a strain of Mac malware …

It seems that a movement to create a national cryptocurrency is gaining momentum in Asia. Following China, the North Korean authorities announced their readiness to issue digital money and even indicated the availability of all required resources — both technical and human — to implement this task. Will the government of the most isolated country in the world go further than its Asian neighbor, or is this just another attempt to scare the United States? Among the reasons for issuing a North Korean digital coin, experts name the circumvention of Western sanctions, money laundering, speculation and even the manufacturing of …

Coming every Sunday, Hodler’s Digest will help you track every single important news story that happened this week. The best (and worst) quotes, adoption and regulation highlights, leading coins, predictions and much more — a week on Cointelegraph in one link. Top Stories This Week Altcoins continue explosive bull run while Bitcoin stalls Not too long ago, Bitcoin (BTC) diehards were warning that altcoins are dead. “The altcoin phenomenon is finished,” RT host Max Keiser said in July. But, based on this week’s performance, the rumors of their death may have been greatly exaggerated. In recent days, Bitcoin has been …

North Korea is reportedly in the early stages of developing a cryptocurrency similar to Bitcoin (BTC). Pyongyang trying to evade sanctions According to a Vice News report on Sept. 18, the project is designed to help the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) evade international sanctions and find a way around “the U.S.-dominated global financial system.” Alejandro Cao de Benos, the official in charge of North Korea’s crypto conferences, said its yet-to-be-named digital currency will be “more like Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies.” Cao de Benos, who is also a special delegate for the Committee for Cultural Relations for the DPRK, …

The United States Treasury Department announced further sanctions against three North Korean state-sponsored hacker groups, responsible for “North Korea’s malicious cyber activity on critical infrastructure.” Continue to enforce existing U.S. and U.N. sanctions against North Korea On Sept. 13, the U.S. Department of Treasury announced sanctions against North Korean hacking groups, more specifically the renowned Lazarus group, and two lesser-known entities, Bluenoroff and Andariel. Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence said: “Treasury is taking action against North Korean hacking groups that have been perpetrating cyber attacks to support illicit weapon and missile programs. [...] We will …

North Korea is denying accusations of obtaining $2 billion through hacking banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. North Korea accuses the United States of spreading rumours On Sept. 1, the country’s official state media, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), denied allegations of massive theft by North Korean agents. As Cointelegraph previously reported, the United Nations Security Council North Korea sanctions committee said that “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea cyber actors were raising money for its WMD (weapons of mass destruction) programs, with total proceeds to date estimated at up to two billion US dollars.” In response, KCNA cited a statement from …

For many years now, the media periodically reports news regarding the alleged mischiefs pinned on the North Korean hackers that are seemingly detriment to target fintech businesses. But this fact seems quite odd, considering that the International Telecommunication Union estimated that the actual percentage of the population of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea using the internet is close to zero. Definitively, it is an environment not favorable for nourishing the skills and ambitions neither of vicious cyber-criminals nor honest cyber-entrepreneurs. However, the North Korean case shows how cryptocurrencies — born as nationality-neutral and government-free — could be twisted to …

The United Nations is investigating 35 North Korean cyberattacks across 17 countries, according to a report published Aug. 13 by the AP. This follows last week’s leaked summary of the report, stating that $2 billion had been hacked by the nation thus far to fund weapons programs. The majority of incidents being probed were carried out via one of three main attack vectors. South Korea bore the brunt of most attacks South Korea is by far the favorite target, suffering 10 of the attacks detailed in the report, with India next, being victim of three attacks. However, incidents being investigated …

Coming every Sunday, Hodler’s Digest will help you track every single important news story that happened this week. The best (and worst) quotes, adoption and regulation highlights, leading coins, predictions and much more — a week on Cointelegraph in one link. Top Stories This Week U.S. Federal Reserve launching payment system, crypto bulls nonplussed The United States Federal Reserve left some crypto enthusiasts unimpressed this week when it unveiled plans to release a real-time payments and settlements service. Known as FedNow, it is hoped the infrastructure will lead to faster transactions 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Presently, …

North Korea has netted around $2 billion by hacking banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, according to the United Nations. UN: Hacked crypto funds weapons of mass destruction In a confidential report acquired by mainstream media outlets including Reuters on Aug. 5, the U.N. Security Council North Korea sanctions committee said that hackers formed an essential part of government funding. “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea cyber actors, many operating under the direction of the Reconnaissance General Bureau, raise money for its WMD (weapons of mass destruction) programs, with total proceeds to date estimated at up to two billion US dollars,” Reuters quoted …

The personal computers of employees at hacked Japanese crypto exchange Coincheck have allegedly been found to have been infected by a virus associated with a hacker group of Russian origin. The allegation was reported by Cointelegraph Japan on June 16. As Cointelegraph has reported, in January 2018, Coincheck suffered an industry record-breaking hack when $534 million worth of NEM was stolen from its wallets. Cointelegraph Japan cites a report from Japanese media agency Asahi Shimbun, which claims that fresh research has cast doubt on prior assumptions that the high-profile hack had been perpetrated by attackers with a North Korean connection. …