North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP
Published . Updated .
North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen approximately $11.87 billion in crypto, according to on-chain analyst Darkfost.That figure works out to 45% of the country's estimated 2025 GDP, based on Bank of Korea data.Darkfost's estimate compares the group's cumulative crypto theft
Directly affected
- No company is named in this report.
Indirectly affected
- IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust-11.5% 30d
iShares Bitcoin Trust: it follows bitcoin. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- XLF Financial Select Sector SPDR-3.5% 30d
Financial Select Sector SPDR: it holds banks. Linked by “bank” (banks) in this story.
- EWY iShares MSCI South Korea ETF-19.2% 30d
iShares MSCI South Korea ETF holds stocks listed in South Korea, which this story is about (“korea”).
- COIN Coinbase Global-28.7% 30d
Coinbase Global (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- MSTR Strategy-22.5% 30d
Strategy (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- MARA MARA Holdings-9.9% 8d
MARA Holdings (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- RIOT Riot Platforms-47.1% 30d
Riot Platforms (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story.
- BAC Bank of America-11.1% 30d
Bank of America (national commercial banks): banks' earnings move with lending, deposits and rates. Linked by “bank” (banks) in this story.
Price reaction, T-5 to T+3
| Ticker | T-5 | T-3 | T-1 | T0 | T+1 | T+2 | T+3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IBIT | +4.24% | +6.39% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| XLFNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| EWYNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| COIN | +11.38% | +13.37% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| MSTR | +7.15% | +11.26% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| MARA | +1.18% | +8.88% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| RIOT | -1.41% | +13.21% | base | after close | after close | after close | after close |
| BACNo price data for this ticker | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Closing-price change versus T-1, the last close before the story. T0 to T+3 fill in after each market close. Prices: Alpaca IEX.
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North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP TradingView
Source: TradingView
How far iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) has moved since 2 Nov 2026
| Company | When | Move | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase Global (COIN) | three days earlier | +13.37% | final price |
| Coinbase Global (COIN) | five days earlier | +11.38% | final price |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) | three days earlier | +6.39% | final price |
| iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) | five days earlier | +4.24% | final price |
| MARA Holdings (MARA) | three days earlier | +8.88% | final price |
| MARA Holdings (MARA) | five days earlier | +1.18% | final price |
| Strategy (MSTR) | three days earlier | +11.26% | final price |
| Strategy (MSTR) | five days earlier | +7.15% | final price |
| Riot Platforms (RIOT) | three days earlier | +13.21% | final price |
| Riot Platforms (RIOT) | five days earlier | -1.41% | final price |
Trades by members of Congress and officials in the stocks in this story
- Rep. Rohit Khanna bought Coinbase Global (COIN) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 4 Sep 2026. That is 59 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Gilbert Cisneros sold Coinbase Global (COIN), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 18 Aug 2026. That is 76 days before publication. Filed 10 Sep 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, sold Coinbase Global (COIN), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 10 Aug 2026. That is 84 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Donald J Trump, an executive branch official, bought Strategy (MSTR), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 10 Aug 2026. That is 84 days before publication. Filed 8 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Rohit Khanna sold Bank Of America (BAC) (held by a spouse), worth $1,001 - $15,000 on 9 Sep 2026. That is 54 days before publication. Filed 7 Oct 2026. View the filing.
- Rep. Laurel Lee sold Bank Of America (BAC) (held by a spouse), worth $50,001 - $100,000 on 24 Aug 2026. That is 70 days before publication. Filed 16 Oct 2026. View the filing.
Public disclosure filings, not a recommendation. The filing link is the source document. News use of these reports still sits under 5 U.S.C. § 13107(c).
Who gains and who loses around iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT)
Companies carried with this story
- IBIT iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF
iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 2 Nov 2026 story “North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP.” Reason on file: iShares Bitcoin Trust: it follows bitcoin. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- EWY Ishares Msci South Korea Etf
Ishares Msci South Korea Etf (EWY) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 2 Nov 2026 story “North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP.” Reason on file: iShares MSCI South Korea ETF holds stocks listed in South Korea, which this story is about (“korea”)
- COIN Coinbase Global
Coinbase Global (COIN) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence in the 2 Nov 2026 story “North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP.” Reason on file: Coinbase Global (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- MSTR Strategy
For “North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP,” Strategy (MSTR) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Strategy (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- MARA MARA Holdings
For “North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP,” MARA Holdings (MARA) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: MARA Holdings (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
- RIOT Riot Platforms
For “North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP,” Riot Platforms (RIOT) is linked, with no stored direction, medium confidence. Reason on file: Riot Platforms (finance services): crypto firms' revenue moves with crypto prices and rules. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT)
On 2 Nov 2026, “North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP” is the story that connects iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) to this story.
The link for iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) is this: iShares Bitcoin Trust: it follows bitcoin. Linked by “crypto” (crypto) in this story
A second company, Ishares Msci South Korea Etf (EWY), is listed for a different reason: iShares MSCI South Korea ETF holds stocks listed in South Korea, which this story is about (“korea”)
The price range for iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT), and the dates in the story
COIN traded between 136.89 and 192.80 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 143.28. EWY traded between 148.30 and 192.47 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 152.92. IBIT traded between 43.03 and 49.12 across 20 sessions. The latest close on file is 43.36.
What the saved facts support for iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT)
46 out of 100
“North Korea's Lazarus Group has stolen $11.87 billion in crypto, equal to 45% of the country's GDP” scores 46 out of 100. The score uses 1 sources, and 6 linked companies.