Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, co-founder of Binance, recently received warnings of an attempted breach targeting his Google account, believed to be orchestrated by government-affiliated hackers, potentially including North Korea’s notorious Lazarus Group.
According to a notice shared by Zhao, “government-backed attackers” tried to gain access to his Google account credentials. CZ speculated on X (formerly Twitter) that this might be another Lazarus Group operation.
“I occasionally get these alerts from Google. Has anyone seen something like this? Could this be North Korea’s Lazarus Group? Not that I have anything critical stored here,” Zhao commented in a Friday post.
The Lazarus Group is infamous for its major crypto attacks, including the record $1.4 billion Bybit hack on Feb. 21, marking the largest theft in the crypto industry to date.
US intelligence reports have described a “sophisticated network of agents posing as remote IT professionals, funneling large sums back to Pyongyang,” according to Anndy Lian, blockchain adviser and author. Lian added:
“I know of a government official who received a similar warning as CZ, indicating attempts by state-backed hackers to steal account credentials. When they contacted Google for details, they were unable to obtain further information due to security protocols.”
CZ Highlights Growing Risk from North Korean Impersonators
This attempted intrusion comes amid a surge in threats from North Korean hackers. Three weeks prior, Zhao warned of North Korean operatives targeting crypto firms through employment schemes and bribery.
“They often apply as job candidates to gain inside access, especially for roles in development, security, and finance,” Zhao wrote on X on Sept. 18.
His caution followed a report from ethical hacking group Security Alliance (SEAL), which identified at least 60 North Korean operatives posing as IT workers under false identities to infiltrate US crypto exchanges and extract sensitive data.
Crypto firms have already faced consequences: In May, Coinbase experienced a breach affecting under 1% of its monthly transacting users, with potential reimbursement costs up to $400 million. In June, four North Korean operatives working as freelance developers stole roughly $900,000 from multiple crypto startups.
Over the course of 2024, North Korean cybercriminals reportedly stole $1.34 billion in digital assets across 47 incidents—a 102% increase from the $660 million taken in 2023, according to Chainalysis data.
Cybersecurity experts recommend that cryptocurrency platforms enhance defenses through measures such as dual wallet management and AI-driven real-time threat detection to mitigate these risks.
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