Bybit Sues North Korea, Lazarus Over $1.5 Billion Hack

Bybit has filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. court against North Korea, its Reconnaissance General Bureau and the Lazarus hacking group over a $1.5 billion hack last year, CoinDesk reported on August 7.

The crypto exchange filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. It also secured a preliminary injunction barring the transfer or disposal of certain assets tied to the case while the litigation proceeds.

Chief Executive Officer Ben Zhou said the company aims to protect users, recover as many assets as possible and hold those behind the attack accountable. The Lazarus attack shook confidence not only in Bybit but in the broader crypto industry, he added.

The civil case is separate from an ongoing criminal investigation by U.S. law enforcement authorities. Lazarus stole about $1.5 billion of Ether from Bybit in February 2025.