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North Korean IT workers have reportedly earned nearly $17 million in 2025, according to an investigation by ZachXBT. This staggering amount has raised concerns about the involvement of these workers in the cryptocurrency industry.
The on-chain sleuth revealed that these individuals, posing as foreign developers, have successfully integrated into dozens of crypto projects and blockchain companies, with their monthly earnings typically ranging between $3,000 and $8,000. It is worth noting that some funds were allegedly received from Circle accounts.
These workers’ poor performance led to frequent terminations, but by the time they are let go, potential damage has already been done, putting cryptocurrency projects at risk.
ZachXBT identified several red flags that can help identify North Korean IT workers during hiring processes. These include failed KYC attempts, refusal to meet colleagues in person despite claiming to live nearby, and shared usage of VPNs with Russian IP addresses.
Source: cryptoslate.com
