DOJ Cracks Down on North Korea's Cryptocurrency Network by Seizing $15M in Tether

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DOJ Cracks Down on North Korea's Cryptocurrency Network by Seizing $15M in Tether

Bitget-RWA2025/11/15 15:08

By:Bitget-RWA

- U.S. DOJ seized $15M in Tether linked to North Korean hackers, targeting sanctions-busting crypto operations via stolen identities and remote work schemes. - APT38 group and "domestic helpers" facilitated DPRK fund siphoning, masking IP addresses and routing payments to evade sanctions. - The crackdown highlights rising stablecoin risks, regulatory scrutiny, and cross-border efforts like the U.S.-Thailand $12M USDT seizure. - Investors face increased volatility and compliance costs, while Trump's crypto

The U.S. Department of Justice has confiscated $15 million worth of Tether's

USDT

associated with North Korean cybercriminals, representing a major step up in efforts to disrupt North Korea’s use of cryptocurrency to evade sanctions. This action,

revealed in conjunction with five admissions of guilt

, highlights a broader approach aimed at dismantling the networks and intermediaries that facilitate the regime’s illegal crypto operations.

The Justice Department’s intervention targets North Korea’s exploitation of stolen American identities and remote work arrangements to divert money from U.S. businesses. These so-called “domestic helpers” helped North Korean operatives secure jobs, disguise their online locations, and funnel salaries into financial channels linked to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky cautioned

that such methods enable North Korea to raise millions for its weapons development while sidestepping international sanctions.

DOJ Cracks Down on North Korea's Cryptocurrency Network by Seizing $15M in Tether image 0

At the heart of this seizure is Advanced Persistent Threat 38 (APT38), a group linked to some of the largest cryptocurrency thefts, including attacks on exchanges and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. The $15 million in frozen USDT joins a growing tally of digital assets seized by U.S. officials from state-sponsored hackers and ransomware groups. This move is part of a wider “Scam Center Strike Force” campaign

cracking down on Southeast Asian pig-butchering scams

, through which U.S. authorities recently reclaimed $80 million in stolen crypto.

This enforcement wave draws attention to the increasing risks facing stablecoins like USDT, which are vital for trading and settlements on offshore platforms. Regulators are putting these assets under greater scrutiny for their potential role in illegal finance, and the DOJ’s actions show that on-chain assets are not immune to law enforcement. For the market, the trend of freezing and confiscating crypto assets brings three main challenges:

increased risk for stablecoins

, reduced liquidity in specific trading pairs, and a regulatory drive for more rigorous counterparty verification.

In addition, the Trump administration’s suggestion to create a federal “bitcoin strategic reserve”—holding seized digital currencies as long-term assets—adds further uncertainty. Although the proposal seeks to avoid selling off confiscated coins, there are still unresolved legal issues, such as the need for congressional approval.

Should this be enacted, such reserves might decrease the available supply

, strengthening the scarcity argument for

bitcoin

and other digital currencies.

International collaboration is also ramping up. A recent joint operation between the U.S. and Thailand resulted in the seizure of $12 million in USDT from a Southeast Asian scam syndicate, illustrating the growing cross-border fight against crypto-related crime.

Tether’s technical team emphasized

the importance of private sector involvement in enforcement, setting examples for future regulatory practices.

For crypto investors, the DOJ’s recent actions point to a changing environment. While short-term volatility and compliance expenses may increase, ongoing crackdowns on state-sponsored theft could ultimately boost confidence in blockchain markets. The North Korea case, however,

highlights the intersection of crypto with national security

and geopolitical concerns—factors that will continue to influence liquidity, regulatory standards, and government holdings of digital assets in the years ahead.

Disclaimer: The content of this article solely reflects the author's opinion and does not represent the platform in any capacity. This article is not intended to serve as a reference for making investment decisions.

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