**News Flash: North Korean Developers Infiltrate Crypto Projects**

Blockchain investigator ZachXBT has uncovered a network of North Korean developers earning up to $500,000 monthly by working on over 25 established crypto projects. In an Aug. 15 post, ZachXBT revealed that these developers, using fake identities, are part of a sophisticated operation likely based in North Korea.

- **Key Findings**:

- 21 developers linked to North Korea are involved.

- They collectively earn between $300,000 to $500,000 monthly.

- A recent incident involved $1.3 million stolen via malicious code.

ZachXBT's investigation traced $375,000 in payments last month and $5.5 million in past transactions to North Korean IT workers. These funds were linked to individuals sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for supporting North Korea’s weapons programs.

- **Additional Insights**:

- Some developers were placed by recruitment companies.

- Instances of Russian Telecom IP overlaps were found among the developers.

The US has previously warned about North Korean workers infiltrating freelance tech jobs, particularly in crypto. The infamous Lazarus Group, linked to North Korea, reportedly stole over $3 billion in crypto assets from 2017 to 2023.