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Norway Police Seize $5.9M in Stolen Crypto From Axie Infinity Hackers 

1 min
Updated by Geraint Price
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In Brief

  • Norwegian Police made record crypto seizure worth $5.9 million from Axie Infinity hackers.
  • The North Korean state-sponsered Lazarus Group was responsible for the hack, according to the FBI
  • Norwegian authorities collaborated with the FBI in the operation.
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Norwegian Police have recovered $5.9 million in crypto from Axie Infinity hackers who stole $620 million in last year’s Ronin Bridge exploit.

According to the latest Økokrim press release, Norwegian police seized crypto worth 60 million NOK (approx $5.9 million) from the Axie Infinity hackers. Økokrim is the National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime in Norway.

Hackers’ Woes Deepen 

In March 2022, North Korean hackers staged one of the largest-ever crypto hacks, worth $620 million, from the Ronin Bridge sidechain of Axie Infinity. Later, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) linked the Axie Infinity Hackers to North Korea’s state-sponsored cybercrime organization, the Lazarus Group.

According to Økokrim, it is the largest crypto-seizure by Norwegian authorities. They collaborated with the FBI to recover the funds from the hackers.

State Attorney Marianne Bender said: “This is money that can support North Korea and their nuclear weapons program. It has therefore been important to track the cryptocurrency and try to stop the money when they try to withdraw it in physical values.”

The FBI has said previously that North Korea funds ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction programs through cryptocurrency thefts. Last week, South Korea sanctioned 11 North Korean parties, including Lazarus Group, for cryptocurrency theft.

Earlier in April 2022, Changpeng Zhao, the founder of the Binance exchange, also helped recover $5.8 million from the Axie Infinity Hackers.

Got something to say about the Lazarus group, North Korean hackers, or anything else? Write to us or join the discussion on our Telegram channel. You can also catch us on TikTok, Facebook, or Twitter.

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Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content.

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Harsh Notariya
Harsh started investing in crypto during the 2021 bull market. He took the opportunity of the market crash in May to learn more about Bitcoin and blockchain technology. Since...
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