Hyperliquid Faces Compliance Questions Amid North Korean Hacker Activity

North Korean hackers linked to the Lazarus Group have moved over $30 million through Hyperliquid, a decentralized trading platform, over the past three weeks. According to blockchain data identified by Arkham researcher Emmett Gallic, addresses tied to the OFAC-sanctioned group have been actively moving funds through Hyperliquid since July 30.

The activity involved converting Bitcoin into other crypto assets before transferring them across several networks and sending them toward centralized exchanges like Kraken, LBank, and KuCoin. The wallets were previously linked to Lazarus by blockchain investigator ZachXBT in 2024, who identified $61 million in stolen funds tied to the group.

Hyperliquid is currently trying to establish a regulated presence in the United States, with President Donald Trump's backing for CFTC Chairman Michael Selig's efforts to bring the platform onshore. However, this latest development raises key compliance questions ahead of any U.S. approval.