• Norway’s economy crimes unit, Økokrim, seized $5.9 million dollars in cryptocurrency as part of their investigation into the Sky Mavis cyber attack in March 2022.
• The seizure is believed to be linked to Lazarus, a North-Korea based hacking group and is part of a larger effort by global authorities to prevent the stolen funds from being used for criminal activities.
• Økokrim is also working with Sky Mavis to compensate victims and potentially prevent the stolen funds from being used to finance North Korea’s nuclear weapons program.
Norway Seizes Crypto Linked To North Korean Hackers
Norway’s economy crimes unit, Økokrim, just pulled off a digital heist of their own by seizing a whopping NOK 60 million (or $5.9 million) in cryptocurrency as part of their ongoing investigation into the Sky Mavis cyber attack in March 2022.
Global Collaboration To Prevent Stolen Assets From Funding Crime
In an impressive international collaboration, the Økokrim team partnered with FBI specialists to track stolen assets via cryptocurrency transactions. This move aims to prevent the funds from being used for criminal activities such as money laundering.
Making Things Right For Victims Of The Axie Infinity Hack
The team is gearing up to communicate with Sky Mavis to ensure that the victims get compensated fully. Marianne Bender, first states attorney at Økokrim has also revealed that hackers are not just looking for crypto but looking to cash out and make real-world investments.
Preventing Funds From Financing North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons Program
Setting A New Standard For International Cybercrime Efforts
This case demonstrates that global authorities have the skills and resources necessary to track down criminals even when they employ advanced tactics.