Behind the $1.5 billion crypto heist: on-chain Batman tears open North Korea's hacker money-laundering network

In February 2025, approximately $1.5 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen from Bybit by North Korean hackers. While the incident has generated extensive reporting and analysis, little public attention has been paid to its aftermath or the trajectory of the stolen funds. To launder this massive haul, the hackers relied on a network of individuals willing to handle stolen assets—and with sufficient funding, such networks can be infiltrated. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT—operating under a pseudonym—employed precisely this strategy, investing $349,700 worth of USDC.