Metaplanet Is Now the Fourth-Largest Public Bitcoin Holder After Latest 5,268 BTC Buy
Metaplanet bought 5,268 BTC, raising its total holdings to 30,823 BTC and making it the fourth-largest publicly traded bitcoin treasury.
AnaisLog in/ Sign up
North Korean Hackers Becomes One of the World’s Largest Bitcoin Holders, Surpassing El Salvador and Bhutan
Follow
North Korea's Lazarus Group Now Holds Over $1.1 Billion in Bitcoin
North Korea’s state-backed hacking group, Lazarus, has become one of the largest holders of Bitcoin globally.
After pulling off the largest heist in crypto history in February 2025, they stole $1.46 billion from the Bybit exchange, primarily in Ethereum.
Surprisingly, Lazarus swiftly converted a significant portion of the stolen funds into Bitcoin, pushing them into the spotlight as one of the most notable government-linked Bitcoin holders.
Lazarus Group's Rapid Bitcoin Accumulation
The Lazarus Group now controls 13,562 BTC, valued at $1.13 billion based on current Bitcoin prices.
This places North Korea’s crypto reserve in the top tier of Bitcoin holders, surpassing nations like Bhutan and El Salvador, who hold much smaller stacks of the asset.
Source: Bitcoin Treasuries
Bhutan owns 10,635 BTC ($888.82 million), while El Salvador holds 6,118 BTC ($511.3 million).
These countries acquired their Bitcoin through legitimate means, with El Salvador’s government purchasing Bitcoin as part of a national reserve strategy and Bhutan mining Bitcoin using its abundant hydroelectric power.
North Korea’s case, however, is far more controversial.
Unlike other state holders, their Bitcoin stockpile comes from illicit activities.
The Lazarus Group is notorious for executing large-scale hacks to fund North Korea’s foreign currency reserves amidst international sanctions.
The Bybit hack was the latest in a series of attacks on the global crypto market, with the group shifting its proceeds into Bitcoin almost immediately.
Bitcoin Puts North Korea Among the Largest Government Holders
The Lazarus Group’s acquisition of Bitcoin places North Korea fourth in the global ranking of government-controlled Bitcoin reserves, behind the United States, China, and the United Kingdom.
The United States holds the largest stash with 198,109 BTC, worth $16.556.96 billion, followed by China with 190,000 BTC.
The UK has 61,245 BTC, valued at around $5.1 billion, largely obtained through criminal seizures.
In comparison, the Lazarus Group’s Bitcoin reserves have raised questions about North Korea's intentions.
While other nations have seized or strategically accumulated Bitcoin, North Korea’s rise through cybercrime paints a more sinister picture.
Timing Raises Questions About North Korea’s Crypto Strategy
The timing of North Korea's Bitcoin accumulation coincides with rising geopolitical tensions, especially with the United States.
In early March 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR), a plan to build a national Bitcoin reserve as part of the country’s broader economic strategy.
This has led to speculation about North Korea's motivation behind its sudden focus on Bitcoin.
Could they be trying to build a reserve to rival other global powers?
While North Korea's Bitcoin stash might not be part of an official national strategy like the SBR in the US, it has drawn significant attention.
The hacking group’s ability to consistently exploit the global cryptocurrency ecosystem raises concerns over the security and regulation of digital assets.
As the Lazarus Group’s crypto activities continue, their role in the larger geopolitical and economic landscape remains unclear.
Their actions are not just a cyber threat but a signal of how digital currencies are becoming intertwined with international power dynamics.
Gain a broader understanding of the crypto industry through informative reports, and engage in in-depth discussions with other like-minded authors and readers. You are welcome to join us in our growing Coinlive community:https://t.me/CoinliveSG
Add Comment
LoginLeave your comments
0 Comments
Earliest
Load more comments
Related News
- Anais
High-Stakes Crypto-Treasury Strategies Put Over 200 Public Companies Under Investigation for Trading Abnormalities
US regulators are investigating over 200 companies for unusual stock trading ahead of crypto-treasury announcements, suspecting possible insider leaks. The SEC and FINRA are checking compliance with disclosure rules, with potential fines and sanctions if violations are found.
AnaisShareholder Dilution Rises as MicroStrategy Funds $1.1 Billion Bitcoin Buys Through Stock Sales
MicroStrategy bought 196 more Bitcoin, raising its total holdings to 640,031 BTC, but funded most purchases by issuing over 3 million new shares. This share dilution has raised concerns among investors as the company’s stock underperforms despite strong Bitcoin gains.
WeatherlyNew Turkish Bill Could Give Regulators Power to Freeze Bank and Crypto Accounts Linked to Crime
Turkey is preparing a law that would let its financial crime agency, Masak, freeze cryptocurrency and bank accounts linked to illegal activity. The rules also aim to strengthen oversight of crypto exchanges and curb the use of rented accounts and suspicious wallets.
AnaisHistoric Japanese Kimono Maker Marusho Hotta Rebrands as Bitcoin Japan and Launches Corporate Bitcoin Treasury
The company will change its name to Bitcoin Japan Corporation on 11 November 2025. It is launching a Bitcoin treasury business and plans to expand into related financial services.
WeatherlyKevin Durant’s Lost Bitcoin Multiplied 180x Before Recovery… So Why Are Other Coinbase Customers Still Stranded?
Nearly 10 years after losing access to his Coinbase account, NBA legend Kevin Durant has finally regained control of his long-dormant Bitcoin stash. But what began as a feel-good recovery story has unexpectedly stirred anger among Coinbase users who say their own pleas for help have gone unanswered.
XingChiNew Korean Drama ‘To The Moon’ Follows Three Women Chasing Big Wins in South Korea’s Explosive 2017–2018 Crypto Market
A new South Korean drama "To The Moon", follows three women investing in crypto during the 2017–2018 Bitcoin boom. It highlights the country’s $3.15 billion daily retail crypto market and growing regulatory oversight.
JoyTrump Sons Push Crypto Into Public Markets With Nasdaq Launch of American Bitcoin Corp: Could This Give the President Unprecedented Market Influence?
The Trump family’s American Bitcoin Corp started trading on Nasdaq, raising $2.1 billion and holding 2,443 Bitcoins to offer investors regulated crypto exposure. This comes as Donald Trump’s administration eases crypto regulations, boosting family-held digital assets worth over $5 billion.
WeatherlyUS Lawmakers Meet Michael Saylor And Crypto Chiefs To Fast-Track Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Plan: Is The US Ready To Back One Million Bitcoin?
US lawmakers are meeting with crypto leaders to discuss a bill that would let the government buy one million Bitcoin over five years. The plan aims to build a strategic Bitcoin reserve using budget-neutral funding, but it needs wider political support to move forward.
AnaisAltvest Capital Rebrands as Africa Bitcoin Corp and Plans $210 Million Bitcoin Buy to Lead Africa’s Crypto Market: Could This Be Africa’s Bitcoin Breakthrough?
South African company Altvest plans to raise $210 million to buy Bitcoin and rebrand as Africa Bitcoin Corp. The firm aims to hold Bitcoin as a core reserve asset and list on regional and international exchanges.
Weatherly
More news about homeusdt technical analysis
- XRP price and technical chart analysisBullishBearish
- bitbanks-market-analysis-2024 0405Bullish1Bearish3
- Beosin Technical Analysis FTX Gas Theft AttackBullishBearish
More news about homeusdt technical analysis
Exploring Berachain: Analysis of Native Protocol and Technical Key Points
Berachain is an EVM-equivalent L1 blockchain built on the Cosmos SDK.
JinseFinanceA brief analysis of BTC's new cross-chain strategy: Symbiosis's implementation process and technical analysis
Symbiosis, a brief analysis of BTC's new cross-chain strategy: Symbiosis's implementation process and technical analysis Golden Finance, why is Symbiosis's cross-chain solution worthy of attention?
JinseFinanceTechnical analysis of Bitcoin trend after Trump's attack
The gunfire last weekend not only shocked the world, but is also bound to cause a wave of turmoil in the cryptocurrency market.
JinseFinanceTechnical analysis: How to help Merlin reach US$4 billion in TVL
"Chain abstraction" is another concept derived from account abstraction, with the purpose of improving users' seamless interaction experience between different blockchains.
JinseFinanceTechnical Analysis API3: Another batch of dark horses in the oracle track?
When it comes to the oracle track, everyone will naturally look to chainlink. However, with the rise of new performance public chains and the emergence of various new module lightweight projects, the oracle track has also begun to involute.
JinseFinanceBitcoin Technical Analysis: Projected Peaks and Pitfalls
The Bitcoin price currently stands at $27,100, signalling a 60% drop from its 2021 peak of $69,000.
BitcoinworldEthereum Shows Promise, Eyes Resistance at $1,670: A Technical Analysis
BitcoinworldChainalysis releases mid-year crime report: here's what they found
Crypto crime is down- but there remain worrying signs for the industry
ClementBitcoin technical analysis shows more pain ahead as analyst hints at BTC’s bottom
FinboldUniswap analysis: UNI price can double based on a classic technical pattern
UNI needs to break above a key technical resistance level to trigger its 100% bull run scenario. Otherwise, a bear flag awaits a 45% price crash.
Cointelegraph