North Korean Hackers Infiltrate Drift to Steal $285 Million in Long-Term Breach

The crypto platform Drift has suffered a major security breach resulting in the theft of $285 million by North Korean state-backed hackers. Reports indicate that the attackers executed a sophisticated 'long con' strategy, embedding themselves as in-person employees for months to bypass internal security protocols. Blockchain security firms have now confirmed that the hack occurred after specifically targeting employees in offline environments. North Korean-linked hackers are estimated to account for 76% of all crypto scam and hack losses in 2026, with total stolen funds reaching $6 billion since 2017. This incident raises serious concerns regarding the security of DeFi platforms and their vulnerability to organized cyber threats. The breach underscores a tactical shift in hacking methods, moving beyond technical exploits to include direct human infiltration and offline social engineering.