North Korea cultivates hacking talent in connection with Binance cryptocurrency theft allegations.

North Korea has cultivated its hacking force through a system of incentives and selections spanning over a decade. The FBI and Binance have accused TraderTraitor, a North Korean-affiliated organization, of being responsible for the theft of approximately $6.3 billion from Binance, a claim Pyongyang denies. Selection begins as early as eleven or twelve years old, with approximately 150 to 200 top students receiving computer training each year, some of whom join the military's cyber units. Successful operations can allow the unit to receive up to 30% of the looted US dollars. South Korea's National Intelligence Service estimated in 2024 that North Korea had approximately 8,400 personnel involved in cyber warfare. Binance stated that attackers infiltrated employee computers through fake interviews and embedded advertising software, and then used internal AI tools to seize control of the systems. (Source: Reuters)