North Korean hackers lost nearly $458K in just 48 hours while trading on Hyperliquid, betting on Ethereum’s price rise. They deposited $476K but got wiped out when ETH dropped. This big loss shows how risky crypto can be, even for experienced hackers, and highlights DeFi’s potential for shady trades.
North Korea’s cyber group just got burned big time—losing almost half a million dollars on a risky Ethereum (ETH) trade. They deposited $476,489 on Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange, betting ETH would rise when it was priced at $3,791.8. But the market flipped, and ETH dropped to $3,251.8, causing their position to get liquidated, leaving them with only $18,187.
This loss highlights the risky side of crypto, even for skilled hackers like North Korea’s Lazarus group, famous for cyberattacks and stealing funds from crypto platforms. Normally, they use these stolen funds to get around international sanctions, but this time, their bet backfired hard.
Hyperliquid, which allows ultra-fast and anonymous trades, is a decentralized exchange, and its involvement raises concerns about how DeFi platforms handle large and potentially suspicious trades. With platforms like these growing, there’s an increasing risk of illegal activities, like money laundering, slipping through the cracks.
Despite the loss, ETH is showing signs of recovery, and it’s a reminder that crypto trading is unpredictable, with both huge rewards and massive risks—even for hackers with years of experience. Let’s see if they learn from this, or go even harder next time.
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