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TRM is a provider of crypto compliance and risk management solutions that helps financial institutions, cryptocurrency businesses, and public agencies detect, investigate, and manage crypto-related fraud and financial crime. Its risk management platform includes solutions for cryptocurrency anti-money laundering (AML), transaction monitoring and wallet screening, entity risk scoring including Know-Your-VASP, and transaction tracing for investigations. These tools enable a rapidly growing number of organizations around the world to safely embrace cryptocurrency-related transactions, products, and partnerships.
North Korean hackers spent months meeting Drift Protocol employees in person before stealing $285 million
North Korean spies spent months conducting multiple in-person meetings with Drift Protocol employees before executing one of the largest social engineering attacks against a crypto protocol, stealing $285 million. According to TRM Labs data, losses attributed to North Korean hackers accounted for 76% of total crypto hack losses in 2026. (CoinDesk)
North Korean hackers accounted for 76% of cryptocurrency theft losses in 2026, having stolen over $6 billion cumulatively since 2017.
According to The Block, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs released a report stating that North Korean hacker groups stole approximately $577 million in crypto assets during the first four months of 2026—accounting for 76% of global hacking losses over the same period. All these losses stemmed from two major incidents that occurred in April: KelpDAO was attacked by the TraderTraitor group, resulting in $292 million in losses; and Drift Protocol was compromised by another North Korean sub-group, suffering $285 million in losses. Preparations for the latter attack began as early as March 11, and funds were fully extracted within 12 minutes. The two incidents employed distinct money-laundering pathways: stolen funds from Drift remain largely dormant on Ethereum, whereas funds stolen from KelpDAO were rapidly swapped into BTC via THORChain, with subsequent laundering facilitated by Chinese intermediaries. TRM Labs noted that since 2017, North Korea’s cumulative crypto theft has exceeded $6 billion—and its share of global losses has risen steadily, from less than 10% in 2020 to 64% in 2025.
North Korean hackers accounted for 76% of cryptocurrency theft losses in 2026, having stolen over $6 billion cumulatively since 2017.
According to The Block, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs released a report stating that North Korean hacker groups stole approximately $577 million in crypto assets during the first four months of 2026—accounting for 76% of global hacking losses over the same period. All these losses stemmed from two major incidents that occurred in April: KelpDAO was attacked by the TraderTraitor group, resulting in $292 million in losses; and Drift Protocol was compromised by another North Korean sub-group, suffering $285 million in losses. Preparations for the latter attack began as early as March 11, and funds were fully extracted within 12 minutes. The two incidents employed distinct money-laundering pathways: stolen funds from Drift remain largely dormant on Ethereum, whereas funds stolen from KelpDAO were rapidly swapped into BTC via THORChain, with subsequent laundering facilitated by Chinese intermediaries. TRM Labs noted that since 2017, North Korea’s cumulative crypto theft has exceeded $6 billion—and its share of global losses has risen steadily, from less than 10% in 2020 to 64% in 2025.
South Korea’s National Tax Service Fully Tracks Cryptocurrency Tax Evasion, Including Non-Custodial Wallets
According to ZDNet Korea, South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) issued a tender notice on April 15 to introduce cryptocurrency transaction tracking software from firms including Chainalysis and TRM Labs. The system aims to monitor cryptocurrency transactions in real time, trace hidden assets of tax evasion suspects, and combat disguised inheritance, gifting, and offshore tax evasion involving digital assets. It can track approximately 70 million types of cryptocurrencies—including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and stablecoins—across 45 blockchain layers. The system also features “de-mixing” capabilities to identify mixing-service-based money laundering techniques and can perform partial identity verification for non-custodial wallets such as MetaMask and Phantom. This marks the NTS’s third deployment of such solutions since 2024; system construction is scheduled for completion in June, with official operation commencing in July.
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North Korean hackers spent months meeting Drift Protocol employees in person before stealing $285 million
North Korean spies spent months conducting multiple in-person meetings with Drift Protocol employees before executing one of the largest social engineering attacks against a crypto protocol, stealing $285 million. According to TRM Labs data, losses attributed to North Korean hackers accounted for 76% of total crypto hack losses in 2026. (CoinDesk)
North Korean hackers accounted for 76% of cryptocurrency theft losses in 2026, having stolen over $6 billion cumulatively since 2017.
According to The Block, blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs released a report stating that North Korean hacker groups stole approximately $577 million in crypto assets during the first four months of 2026—accounting for 76% of global hacking losses over the same period. All these losses stemmed from two major incidents that occurred in April: KelpDAO was attacked by the TraderTraitor group, resulting in $292 million in losses; and Drift Protocol was compromised by another North Korean sub-group, suffering $285 million in losses. Preparations for the latter attack began as early as March 11, and funds were fully extracted within 12 minutes. The two incidents employed distinct money-laundering pathways: stolen funds from Drift remain largely dormant on Ethereum, whereas funds stolen from KelpDAO were rapidly swapped into BTC via THORChain, with subsequent laundering facilitated by Chinese intermediaries. TRM Labs noted that since 2017, North Korea’s cumulative crypto theft has exceeded $6 billion—and its share of global losses has risen steadily, from less than 10% in 2020 to 64% in 2025.
Singapore Police Force Collaborates with Cryptocurrency Platforms to Intercept Over S$2.86 Million in Fraud Proceeds Within a Month
According to the Lianhe Zaobao, Singapore’s Police Anti-Scam Centre and the Cybercrime Investigation Division collaborated with cryptocurrency platforms including Coinbase, Coinhako, StraitsX, and Upbit in a month-long targeted enforcement operation from March 16 to April 15 this year, successfully intercepting over S$2.86 million in scam proceeds. During the operation, authorities used analytical tools from blockchain intelligence firms TRM Labs and Chainalysis to identify victims involved in multiple scam categories—including impersonation of government officials, investment scams, job scams, and online romance scams—and carried out more than 90 direct interventions via telephone and in-person contact. The police stated that the operation’s success stemmed from a rapid information-sharing mechanism between law enforcement agencies and private-sector platforms, and emphasized their continued commitment to deepening public-private collaboration to counter increasingly sophisticated cryptocurrency scams.
South Korea’s National Tax Service Fully Tracks Cryptocurrency Tax Evasion, Including Non-Custodial Wallets
According to ZDNet Korea, South Korea’s National Tax Service (NTS) issued a tender notice on April 15 to introduce cryptocurrency transaction tracking software from firms including Chainalysis and TRM Labs. The system aims to monitor cryptocurrency transactions in real time, trace hidden assets of tax evasion suspects, and combat disguised inheritance, gifting, and offshore tax evasion involving digital assets. It can track approximately 70 million types of cryptocurrencies—including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and stablecoins—across 45 blockchain layers. The system also features “de-mixing” capabilities to identify mixing-service-based money laundering techniques and can perform partial identity verification for non-custodial wallets such as MetaMask and Phantom. This marks the NTS’s third deployment of such solutions since 2024; system construction is scheduled for completion in June, with official operation commencing in July.