North Korean hackers have siphoned $3B in crypto since 2017. Learn how the Lazarus, TraderTraitor and others operate, the big DMM and Bybit heists, and how the industry is responding.
Bybit Hack – What Happened and Why It Matters
The Bybit hack shocked the crypto world in 2023, exposing thousands of user accounts and millions of dollars. When looking at the Bybit hack, a security breach that targeted the Bybit cryptocurrency exchange's hot wallet infrastructure, it's clear this event is more than a headline—it’s a case study in exchange security failure. Also known as the Bybit exchange breach, it forced the industry to re‑evaluate how custodial assets are protected.
To understand the fallout, you first need to see how the cryptocurrency hacks ecosystem connects. These attacks range from phishing scams to massive smart contract exploits. The Bybit hack sits at the intersection of exchange security and broader smart contract hacks, because the attacker leveraged a vulnerable contract that handled deposit withdrawals. This overlap shows that a single weak point can cascade into a full‑scale exchange breach.
One key lesson is that the Bybit hack encompasses an exchange security breach and requires forensic blockchain analysis to trace stolen funds. Investigators used transaction tracing tools, wallet clustering, and on‑chain forensics to map the flow of assets to offshore mixers. The process demonstrates how modern crypto investigations blend traditional cybersecurity with specialized blockchain analytics.
Another important connection is that DeFi security and centralized exchange safety are tightly linked. When a centralized platform like Bybit fails, users lose trust not only in that exchange but also in the broader DeFi ecosystem that relies on similar smart contract logic. This dynamic led regulators worldwide to call for stricter auditing standards, showing that cryptocurrency hacks directly influence regulatory reforms.
What You’ll Find Below
Below is a curated list of articles that break down the Bybit hack from multiple angles: technical post‑mortems, lessons for exchange operators, comparisons with other high‑profile breaches, and practical steps you can take to protect your own holdings. Whether you’re a trader, a security researcher, or just curious about what went wrong, the collection gives you actionable insights and a deeper grasp of crypto‑security challenges.