Lazarus Group Transfers $30M in Bitcoin via Hyperliquid Amid US Market Entry Plans

North Korean hackers linked to the Lazarus Group have moved over $30 million in Bitcoin through Hyperliquid's HyperUnit service within three weeks, according to recent data. This activity has raised potential sanctions concerns and follows earlier scrutiny of the group's operations.

The funds, tied to $61 million in stolen assets identified earlier this year, were converted into Ether and Solana before reaching other major exchanges like Kraken. Despite this large transfer, Hyperliquid's native token HYPE showed only a modest price increase, indicating traders have not yet factored in the sanctions risk.

This disclosure comes as Hyperliquid seeks to enter the US market through Kraken's parent company, with regulatory approval from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission potentially influencing the outcome. The move would mark Hyperliquid's first direct entry into the US market, offering its perpetual futures products to US traders through Bitnomial, a regulated US derivatives venue.