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North Korean hackers had offline contact with Drift employees for several months, ultimately ...

Chaincatcher • May 1, 2026

North Korean hackers had months of offline and infiltration with employees of Drift Protocol before launching one of the largest social engineering attacks in the history of the cryptocurrency industry, resulting in a loss of approximately $285 million.

Data from blockchain security company TRM Labs shows that North Korean hackers have accounted for 76% of all cryptocurrency hacking losses in 2026 to date.

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This article is one source in a clustered incident — the cluster page carries the summary, timeline and every other outlet covering it.

North Korean Hackers Execute Major Social Engineering Attack on Drift Protocol North Korean hackers conducted extensive offline infiltration with employees of Drift Protocol over several months before executing a significant social engineering attack. This attack has resulted in losses estimated at approximately $285 million, marking it as one of the largest in the cryptocurrency sector's history. According to TRM Labs, North Korean hackers have been responsible for 76% of all cryptocurrency hacking losses in 2026 to date. The attack highlights the ongoing threat posed by state-sponsored cyber operations targeting the cryptocurrency industry. The specific methods and tools used in this attack have not been detailed in the articles. The incident raises alarms about the security measures in place at cryptocurrency firms and the effectiveness of their employee training against social engineering tactics. Current investigations are likely ongoing to assess the full impact and to identify any additional vulnerabilities. 2 sources 72

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North Korean hackers had offline contact with Drift employees for several months, ultimately ...

The full story

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