Blockchain researchers say North Korean cybercriminals stole nearly $400 million worth of cryptocurrency last year, notching a 40% increase over 2020’s haul.

According to a new report from Chainalysis, a New York-based “blockchain data platform” that specializes in uncovering criminal activity, North Korean hackers launched “at least seven attacks on cryptocurrency platforms that extracted nearly $400 million worth of digital assets” in 2021.

The researchers also uncovered two emerging trends in North Korea’s crypto theft: an increasing reliance on crypto-laundering “mixers” and a focus on stealing ethereum.

In cryptocurrency parlance, “mixing” refers to sending and receiving