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South Korea Unveils North Korea’s Role in Upbit Hack

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According to local media, South Korea confirmed that North Korea was behind the theft of 342,000 Ethereum (ETH) tokens. The 2019 loot, worth approximately 58 billion Won or $41.5 million, was stolen from the Upbit crypto exchange.

The stolen tokens, now valued at 1.47 trillion Won, represent one of the largest cryptocurrency heists attributed to North Korea.

North Korea’s Involvement Uncovered

Per the report, the National Investigation Headquarters of South Korea’s National Police Agency announced on November 21 that two North Korean hacking groups, Lazarus and Andariel, orchestrated the attack. Both groups are known affiliates of North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau, a state agency linked to cyber espionage and financial crimes.

Investigators relied on a combination of digital forensics, including tracking IP addresses and analyzing the flow of stolen cryptocurrencies. The probe also identified linguistic traces of North Korean vocabulary.

“It was revealed that traces of the North Korean term ‘Heulhan Il’ (a word meaning ‘unimportant matter’) were found on the computer used in the attack at the time,” another local Korean media corroborated.

This linguistic fingerprint, alongside other technical evidence, strengthened the case against North Korea. According to the report, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) police also aided the investigation. They provided additional evidence linking the attack to North Korea.

Following the theft, the perpetrators exchanged 57% of the stolen Ethereum for Bitcoin on three cryptocurrency exchanges believed to be operated by North Korea. These transactions happened at prices 2.5% below market value, presumably to expedite the sale. They then distributed the remaining Ethereum across 51 overseas exchanges and laundered them to obscure its origins.

Ethereum Price Performance. Source: BeinCrypto

In 2020, some of the stolen cryptocurrency was identified at a Swiss crypto exchange. After a four-year effort to prove its source to Swiss prosecutors, South Korean authorities recovered 4.8 Bitcoin (BTC), worth around 600 million won. The recovered funds were later returned to Upbit in October 2024.

Concerns Over North Korea and Upbit Woes

Meanwhile, North Korea’s involvement in cryptocurrency crimes is not new. After a series of reports, authorities have noted a shift in tactics. As BeInCrypto reported recently, hackers linked to the regime are increasingly targeting crypto firms with sophisticated methods. Among the most prevalent techniques are phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks.

“The campaign, which we dubbed ‘Hidden Risk’, uses emails propagating fake news about cryptocurrency trends to infect targets via a malicious application disguised as a PDF file,” a recent report read.

This change of tact highlights the urgency for heightened cybersecurity measures across the industry. Notwithstanding, the confirmation of North Korea’s involvement in the 2019 Upbit hack marks a significant development.

While the United Nations (UN) and foreign governments have previously accused North Korea of funding its weapons programs through crypto theft, this is the first time South Korean authorities have officially linked the regime to a major cryptocurrency heist. The incident highlights the dual vulnerabilities facing the cryptocurrency industry.

First, external threats from state-sponsored hackers and, second, internal risks tied to inadequate regulatory compliance. Against the latter, and as BeInCrypto reported, South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit recently cited concerns about inadequate user verification systems. Specifically, the unit flagged over 600,000 potential KYC violations at Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange.

The discovery of mass KYC violations at Upbit raises questions about whether exchanges are doing enough to prevent illicit activities. Improved oversight, combined with stricter enforcement of anti-money laundering (AML) measures, could help deter future attacks and ensure a safer trading environment for investors.

The exchange is also facing an antitrust investigation by South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission, which is examining potential abuses of market dominance.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Why SUI Network Outage Did Not Cause a Price Crash

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Earlier today, the Layer-1 blockchain Sui experienced a two-hour blackout, halting block production and rendering transaction processing impossible. This network outage led to a slight dip in SUI’s price, falling from $3.73 to $3.64.

Despite concerns of a more significant decline, the price stabilized after the project announced that the network was fully restored and operational.

Sui Comes Back Online, Altcoin Still in Good Position

Around 10:52 UTC, web3 security firm ExVull disclosed that a DOS bug caused the Sui network outage. Fully known as a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack, the bug” refers to a software attack that overwhelms a system with excessive traffic or requests, causing it to become unavailable to legitimate users by crashing or severely slowing its functionality.

“After our analysis, it was found that the Sui Network node occur DOS due to integer overflow,” ExVul stated.

Following this development, several exchanges halted SUI transactions as the price also dipped a little. However, nearly two hours later, the project updated its community, saying that validators had assisted in resolving the issue.

“The Sui network is back up and processing transactions again, thanks to swift work from the incredible community of Sui validators. The 2-hour downtime was caused by a bug in transaction scheduling logic that caused validators to crash, which has now been resolved,” it explained.

Meanwhile, data from Messari showed that, amid the outage, the Sharpe ratio remained positive. The Sharpe ratio is a key measure of risk-adjusted return, indicating how much excess return an investment generates relative to its volatility

It helps investors assess whether the returns of a riskier asset justify the risk taken. A higher ratio signifies better risk-adjusted performance. Typically, when the ratio is negative, it means that the risk might not be worth the reward.

SUI Sharpe ratio
Sui Sharpe Ratio. Source: Messari

However, since it is positive for SUI, it indicates that accumulating the altcoin around its current value could still yield positive returns.

SUI Price Prediction: Run Above $4

On the daily chart, SUI continues to trade within an ascending channel. An ascending channel, also called a rising channel or channel up, is a chart pattern defined by two parallel upward-sloping lines. 

It forms when the price shows higher swing highs and higher swing lows, indicating an ongoing uptrend. Furthermore, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) has increased, suggesting that buying pressure has outpaced distribution.

Sui price analysis
Sui Daily Analysis. Source: TradingView

If this continues, SUI’s price could climb above $4. However, if a Sui network outage occurs again, this might not happen. In that scenario, the value could drop below $3.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Aptos Partners with Circle and Stripe to Revitalize Network

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The Aptos Foundation announced a new partnership with Circle and Stripe, hoping to revolutionize its network functionality. Circle’s CCTP and USDC stablecoin will enhance blockchain interoperability, while Stripe will attract TradFi by simplifying fiat interactions.

Aptos has set ambitious goals with this partnership, but APT’s upward momentum has stagnated.

Aptos Partners with Circle and Stripe

According to a new announcement from the Aptos (APT) Foundation, its network is integrating Circle’s USDC stablecoin and Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP). Additionally, Aptos is integrating the payment platform Stripe, generally streamlining fiat-related features. These include on- and off-ramps, payment processing, and TradFi ease of adoption.

“Once the integration is complete, users will be able to seamlessly transfer USDC between Aptos and 8 major blockchains. In addition to USDC and CCTP, Stripe will soon launch its payment services on Aptos, creating a reliable fiat on-ramp to streamline merchant pay-ins and payouts using Aptos-compatible wallets,” the firm claimed via press release.

In other words, Aptos aims to use this partnership to make itself “the ultimate hub for interoperable DeFi.” These companies will approach this goal from both ends: enticing new users and investors while substantially improving the core experience. This partnership marks a new development for Stripe’s integration with crypto.

Indeed, Stripe took a six-year hiatus from cryptocurrency payments, which only ended this April. Since then, however, it’s been engaging seriously with the industry. The firm entered an earlier partnership with Circle this June, hoping to promote USDC adoption. Additionally, Stripe acquired Bridge, a crypto payment platform, last month.

For its part, Aptos is undertaking a recovery process. Despite a major price spike in March, it suffered a lingering decline for most of 2024. The asset began regaining steam in October, and the November bull market has brought increased optimism. Still, its gains have stagnated for about a week.

Aptos Price in 2024
Aptos Price in 2024. Source: BeInCrypto

This partnership between Aptos, Circle, and Stripe may help APT regain its forward momentum. These ambitious new features will greatly add functionality and accessibility to Aptos’ network. Still, the firm has set a very ambitious goal for itself: to solidify “its place as a leader in interoperable DeFi and enterprise-grade blockchain technology.” Only time can tell its success level.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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SEC Moves Toward Solana ETF Approval Amid Pro-Crypto Shift

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The SEC is quietly meeting with several issuers to discuss approving a Solana ETF, claims Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett. With Trump’s impending pro-crypto administration, the SEC seems more inclined to approve such a product.

However, anti-crypto figure Gary Gensler is still nominally in charge of the SEC, and public progress might not begin until 2025.

Solana ETF Approval Is Getting Closer

According to a scoop from Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett, the SEC and several ETF issuers are in talks to approve a Solana ETF. Currently, Brazil is the only country that has given this product a green light. As recently as September, Polymarket odds gave the SEC a dismal 3% chance of approving it. This reluctance, however, might soon be changing:

“Talks between SEC staff and issuers looking to launch a Solana spot ETF are “progressing” with the SEC now engaging on S-1 applications. Recent engagement from staff, coupled with the incoming pro-crypto administration, is sparking a renewed sense of optimism that a Solana ETF could be approved sometime in 2025,” Terrett claimed.

Terrett was very clear about the impetus for this progress in negotiations: Donald Trump’s re-election. On the campaign trail, Trump vowed to significantly reform US crypto policy, and one cornerstone was firing anti-crypto SEC Chair Gary Gensler. Gensler has apparently conceded to his impending ouster, and his replacement will undoubtedly support the industry.

Previous attempts have floundered at an early step in the process. Once the SEC officially acknowledges an application, it must confirm or deny it within a 240-day window. Previous filings have lingered in limbo at this stage. However, the list of candidates is now growing: Canary Capital filed for a Solana ETF in October, and BitWise did the same earlier today.

Timeline of Solana ETF Applications, with Previous Frozen Attempts
Timeline of Solana ETF Applications, with Previous Frozen Attempts. Source: Eric Balchunas

Nonetheless, these positive negotiations still only consist of anonymous rumors. The Commission has not publicly moved to begin this process, and Gensler is still nominally in charge. Terrett posits that the SEC will only make serious progress on the Solana ETF at the start of 2025. Compared to previous pessimism, however, this is a complete sea change.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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