Bankless Why North Korea Is Winning Crypto Crime and How to Fight Back | Ari Redbord, TRM Labs
24 snips
May 11, 2026 
Ari Redbord, former DOJ national security prosecutor and now global head of policy at a blockchain analytics firm, breaks down North Korea’s state-run crypto crime machine. He walks through the Drift hack, how DPRK launderers use mixers, THORChain, OTCs and Chinese networks, and why real-time alerts, DeFi hardening, and offensive cyber may be needed to fight back.
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$6 Billion Funded By Crypto Theft
- TRM estimates North Korea stole roughly $6 billion in crypto over recent years, funding weapons and regime needs.
- They prioritize rapid off-ramps and lose some value but extract enough to finance proliferation and regime support.
Harden Protocols And Pursue Offensive Recovery
- Harden DeFi by adopting community best practices and cyber hygiene, and combine that with offensive actions against attackers.
- TRM recommends build-in cybersecurity, real-time interdiction, and offensive cyber or asset recovery where feasible.
How A $15B Pig Butchering Takedown Worked
- The DOJ seized 127,000 BTC from a massive pig butchering scam using multi-agency tactics, indictments, sanctions, and forfeiture.
- TRM credits insider leads and coordinated law enforcement plus financial sanctions for enabling that unprecedented recovery.