US Court Backs Bybit's Bid to Uncover North Korea-Linked Hack Funds

US court records have unsealed information showing that a federal judge has backed crypto exchange Bybit's bid to trace assets stolen in the $1.5 billion North Korea-linked hack, granting the company expedited discovery.

The records indicate that Bybit filed the lawsuit under seal on June 18 against North Korea, its Reconnaissance General Bureau, the Lazarus Group and 20 unidentified defendants.

The court granted Bybit's request for expedited discovery on June 19, allowing the company to identify alleged intermediaries and pursue a small portion of stolen assets that remains traceable, rather than relying solely on a judgment against North Korea.

Bybit alleges that some traceable assets reached exchanges operating or maintaining infrastructure in the US and sought account-holder identities, balances and transaction histories from these platforms, as they had indicated they would cooperate after receiving a court order.