In a curious twist of fate, the esteemed US Federal Bureau of Investigation has taken it upon themselves to don the hat of a digital sheriff, urging crypto node operators and exchanges to draw their digital six-shooters and block transactions from the shadowy addresses of the Bybit heist, a grand theft crypto of $1.4 billion.
Confirming the industry’s whispers and rumors, the FBI has pointed the finger at the usual suspect, North Korea, branding the cyber outlaws as “TraderTraitor” in a public service announcement that could only be described as a dramatic overture.
In an April 2022 statement that reads like a script for a cybersecurity soap opera, the FBI noted that TraderTraitor is also known by other aliases in the crypto wild west—Lazarus Group, APT38, BlueNoroff, and the whimsically named Stardust Chollima.
“These TraderTraitor ne’er-do-wells are quick on the draw, having turned some of the pilfered loot into Bitcoin and scattered it across thousands of addresses on multiple blockchains like a trail of digital breadcrumbs,” the FBI declared with a sense of dramatic flair.
“It is foreseen that these ill-gotten gains will be further sanitized and transformed into good old-fashioned fiat, the currency of choice for those who prefer their wealth less virtual and more tangible.”
The FBI, with a stern glance and a wagging finger, has implored RPC node operators, exchanges, bridges, blockchain sleuths, and even the denizens of decentralized finance to bar the gates against any transactions linked to the dastardly TraderTraitor.
In a tale as old as time, the Bybit hackers have managed to wash more than 135,000 Ether (ETH) since the fateful day of February 21, a feat that would make any laundry service proud, according to crypto analyst EmberCN.
Another 363,900 Ether, a treasure trove worth a cool $825 million, remains untouched, perhaps waiting for the perfect moment to make its escape into the night.
Chainalysis, the crypto forensics firm with a nose for digital dirt, has revealed that the hackers have been busy bees, converting their stolen Ether into Bitcoin (BTC), the Dai (DAI) stablecoin, and other assets through decentralized exchanges, crosschain bridges, and an instant swap service that clearly missed the memo on ‘Know Your Customer’ protocols.
The FBI, in a gesture of goodwill, has shared a list of 51 Ethereum addresses operated by TraderTraitor and their cronies, urging the industry to treat them like the digital plague.
Not to be outdone, blockchain analytics firm Elliptic has flagged a staggering 11,084 crypto wallet addresses as potential accomplices in the Bybit caper.
For those with a penchant for snitching, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center stands ready with open arms and a notepad.
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2025-02-27 09:05