Tags in this story
axie infinity, Axie Infinity crypto, Axie Infinity FBI, Axie Infinity hack, Axie Infinity Norway, Axie Infinity stolen crypto, FBI, Lazarus, Lazarus Axie Infinity, Lazarus hackers, Norway, seize crypto, seize cryptocurrency
Norwegian authorities seize $6 million worth of crypto from Axie Infinity Heist with FBI help – Featured Bitcoin News
The Norwegian authorities, in cooperation with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the US Department of Justice (DOJ), are said to have seized around 6 million dollars that were stolen in last year’s Axie Infinity robbery. – It is the biggest crypto seizure Norwegian police have ever made, says Økokrim.
Norway and the FBI recover some stolen funds from the Axie Infinity Attack
Økokrim, Norway’s national authority for the investigation and prosecution of economic and environmental crime, announced on Thursday that it has seized NOK 60 million (about $5.8 million) in crypto in connection with the attack against Axie Infinity and Sky Mavis, the company that developed non- fungible token (NFT) based online video game.
The Norwegian authorities explained that in cooperation with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI):
Økokrim has seized close to NOK 60 million in cryptocurrency. It is the biggest crypto seizure Norwegian police have ever made.
“We are working with FBI specialists to trace cryptocurrency. Such cooperation between countries means that we as a society stand stronger in the fight against digital, profit-motivated crime”, commented First State Attorney Marianne Bender. However, Økokrim did not provide details of the seizure.
Axie Infinity suffered an attack last March after the Ronin network validators were compromised. The reported loss was $620 million at the time. “The attacker managed to gain control of Sky Mavis’ four Ronin validators and a third-party validator powered by Axie DAO,” Sky Mavis said.
According to the FBI, the North Korean hacker group Lazarus was behind the robbery. The hackers started a large-scale and sophisticated money laundering operation right after the attack, Økokrim says.
Last May, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned the cryptomixer Blender.io. The Treasury Department explained that Blender was used in the money laundering process for North Korea’s Axie Infinity heist, processing over $20.5 million in illicit proceeds.
What do you think about Norway seizing the crypto stolen from Axie Infinity with the help of the DOJ and the FBI? Let us know in the comments section below.
Image credit: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or an endorsement or recommendation of products, services or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is directly or indirectly responsible for damages or losses caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on content, goods or services mentioned in this article.
