Bybit has filed a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against North Korea and associated actors.

Parties named and case scope

The complaint names the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, its Reconnaissance General Bureau, and the Lazarus group as defendants, alongside unidentified wallet operators.

Court action and preliminary measures

A judge issued a preliminary injunction freezing the assets identified as stolen for the duration of the litigation, citing that Bybit has substantial prospects of prevailing on the merits.

Incident details

In February 2025, malicious actors withdrew more than 400,000 ETH and stETH, with an estimated total value of $1.5 billion, in what became the largest theft in cryptocurrency history.

Recovery and frozen funds

Bybit has recovered approximately $48.4 million, while another $30.5 million remains frozen across more than 28 exchanges and custody providers.

Legal implications

The suit seeks to hold state and non‑state actors accountable for the theft and to enable recovery through U.S. courts, using asset freezes to preserve remedies during proceedings.

Details of the evidentiary record and specific relief sought are set out in the complaint filed in Washington, D.C., where the litigation will proceed.