North Korean Infiltration in Crypto Firms Reaches Alarming Levels
North Korean operatives have infiltrated up to 20% of cryptocurrency firms, according to industry investigators. The scale of the breach, largely unnoticed until now, poses significant risks to hiring networks, internal systems, and overall security in the digital-asset sector.
Pablo Sabbatella of the Security Alliance (SEAL) revealed a pattern of hidden recruitment practices and malware-driven access routes. He estimates that 15% to 20% of crypto firms may already harbor North Korean agents, with 30% to 40% of job applications potentially linked to state-sponsored actors.
These infiltrators gain access to critical infrastructure, including internal tooling and production systems, embedding themselves into daily operations. The trend has become a preferred vector for North Korean cyber activity, leveraging front workers and remote identities to bypass traditional security measures.
