Stealing $1.5B in Crypto Is Easy. Cashing Out Is the Hard Part.
North Korean hackers looted $1.5 billion from Bybit in 2025, but turning those tainted tokens into spendable cash required a massive money-laundering web.
Advertising disclosure: we may earn a commission when you join an operator via links on this page, at no cost to you. This never dictates our ratings. How we make money
Key takeaways
- North Korean hackers drained $1.5 billion from Bybit in February 2025.
- Moving the illicit assets required a broad network of accomplices willing to handle hot crypto.
- Laundering stolen funds remains the primary bottleneck for large-scale cybercriminals.
Stealing $1.5 billion in crypto takes seconds. Cashing it out? That takes an army.
When North Korean hackers breached the exchange platform Bybit in February 2025, the crypto world immediately panicked over the breach itself. But taking the money was just step one. The attackers ran straight into a far tougher wall: moving billions in flagged digital assets without alerting global law enforcement.
Blockchains don't forget. Period. Every single transaction leaves an indelible record on the ledger, making raw stolen tokens nearly impossible to spend directly. To off-ramp the plunder, the hackers had to recruit an entire network of middleman intermediaries willing to process illicit funds through obscure desks and money-laundering routes.
Why it matters
Mega-hacks grab the headlines, but off-ramp bottlenecks are what actually limit the payday. Look, if attackers can't swap stolen tokens into usable fiat or clean crypto, the financial logic behind massive exploits completely breaks down. Tighter tracking at these cashing-out points protects everyday traders by making large-scale theft far less profitable.
Source: CryptoSlate
Top Crypto Casinos Right Now
🇺🇸 Showing sites that accept players from United States Change country
Advertising disclosure: we may earn a commission when you join an operator via links on this page, at no cost to you. This never dictates our ratings. How we make money
More info Less info
Why we chose it: A US-facing book that pays a premium for crypto deposits: 125% against 100% for cash, with fee-free deposits across five coins.
- Payout time
- Within 24 hours (crypto)
- KYC
- Required
Restricted countries: Australia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Congo - Brazzaville, Eritrea, France, Guinea-Bissau and 16 more.
More info Less info
Why we chose it: BetNow's casino floor with the biggest match bonus we list. The 200% headline deserves a careful read of the code terms behind it.
- Payout time
- Within 24 hours (crypto)
- KYC
- Required
Restricted countries: Australia, Afghanistan, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Congo - Brazzaville, Eritrea, France, Guinea-Bissau and 16 more.
More info Less info
Why we chose it: A US-oriented casino that turns away only New Jersey. The cashier takes crypto, but the site publishes fewer specifics than any operator we list.
- KYC
- Required
Restricted countries: New Jersey (US).
Sofia Marek
Sofia reviews exchanges and crypto casinos, focused on fees, safety and what actually reaches the player.
Related News
Chainalysis Traces $387M Bitget Hack to North Korea Using AI
$3.8M Drained from NEAR Intents: Team Fixes Bug and Repays Victims in Hours
NEAR Intents Drained for $3.8M, Pledges Full Refunds
