The Lazarus group, a North Korean-affiliated hacker group, transferred 400 Ethereum (worth $750,000) using the privacy tool Tornado Cash on March 12, 2025. These funds likely stem from the $1.5 billion record-breaking hack of Bitfinex. Security analysts from CertiK, Elliptic, and Chainalysis have attributed this attack to the Lazarus group. Zak XBT, a blockchain investigator, revealed that North Korea has purchased 437.6 billion PEP tokens (worth $3.1 million) after withdrawing Ethereum from Tornado Cash. This transfer showcases the evolution of Lazarus’ tactics, including network-based money laundering and malware campaigns. U.S. authorities estimate that Tornado Cash has processed over $7 billion in illicit funds since 2019. Security firms warn that North Korea uses stolen digital assets to fund its military programs.
