Binance Warns Crypto Industry of Increasing North Korean Hacker Threat

Binance Co-Founder's Warning on North Korean Hackers

Changpeng Zhao, Binance co-founder, warns about the increasing threat from North Korean hackers targeting crypto firms.
Hackers pose as job candidates or employers to gain access to companies, especially in developer, security, and finance roles.
They use tactics like sending malicious "Zoom updates" or tainted "sample code" during interviews to infect devices.
There are reports of hackers bribing employees and contractors for internal access, leading to data breaches.
Coinbase faced a significant breach when an outsourced employee stole customer data, resulting in $400 million losses.

Security Recommendations

Zhao advises crypto platforms to train staff against downloading unknown files and thoroughly vet job candidates.
He emphasizes that minor security lapses can lead to major financial losses, supporting state-backed hacking activities.

Potential Return of CZ to Binance

CZ's recent change in his online bio sparked rumors about his possible return to Binance.
No official announcement has been made regarding his comeback.
CZ left his CEO position following a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and served a four-month jail term in 2024.