Bybit sues North Korea over $1.5B hack, wins asset freeze order

Bybit has sued North Korea over a $1.5 billion crypto hack and won a court order freezing assets linked to the theft today, according to Decrypt. The case targets the Lazarus Group, which Decrypt says stole the funds in February 2025, underscoring the urgency of recovering crypto looted by state-linked hackers. The outcome could shape how exchanges and courts coordinate cross-border asset freezes under sanctions and cybercrime regimes.

Bybit says it has recovered $48.4 million and secured freezes on another $30.5 million, a small fraction of the haul, Decrypt reports. The exchange is pursuing further legal steps to trace and reclaim funds tied to the breach, according to the report. Watch for details on the order's scope, named counterparties, and any additional wallet seizures or recoveries. [Developing. This article will be updated.]