Økokrim investigating crypto-theft of NOK 5 billion

On 23 March, cryptocurrency in an amount corresponding to approx. NOK 5 billion was stolen in a digital attack targeting the game Axie Infinity. The amount involved makes it one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts ever committed.

Publisert 10. mai 2022

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In April, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation stated that their investigation had established that state actors linked to North Korea was behind the theft (https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/press-releases/fbi-statement-on-attribution-of-malicious-cyber-activity-posed-by-the-democratic-peoples-republic-of-korea).

Økokrim, the Norwegian National Authority for Investigation and Prosecution of Economic and Environmental Crime, has launched its own investigation of the attack. Around 750 persons living in Norway had assets in the online game Axie Infinity when the theft took place. Økokrim wants to come into contact with Norwegian nationals and other persons living in Norway who were affected by the attack, who can all register via Økokrim's website.

The investigation will initially try to track the stolen cryptocurrency in collaboration with the FBI.

The persons behind the attack have initiated a large-scale laundering process to conceal where the proceeds are, and it is this process that Økokrim and the FBI will now target in their investigation.

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