FBI Seizes More Than $1.2 Billion in Cryptocurrency Linked to Binance Hack

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Washington, November 13, 2026: The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has announced a major development in an international cryptocurrency investigation after securing the seizure or court-authorised restraint of more than $1.2 billion in digital assets connected to a massive cryptocurrency theft involving Binance.

The development represents an important step in international efforts to combat sophisticated cybercrime and recover digital assets stolen through large-scale hacking operations.

The investigation has been linked by US authorities to a North Korean hacking group known as TraderTraitor.

One of the Largest Cryptocurrency Thefts

According to the FBI, the original cryptocurrency theft involved approximately $6.3 billion in digital assets.

The incident has been described in reports as one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts in history.

Investigators have attributed the operation to TraderTraitor, a hacking group that US authorities associate with North Korea.

The case highlights the growing scale of cybercrime targeting cryptocurrency exchanges and digital financial infrastructure.

FBI Announces Recovery Action

The FBI said US authorities had seized or obtained court authorisation to restrain more than $1.2 billion worth of cryptocurrency connected to the theft.

The US government and private-sector partners have collectively frozen more than $2.7 billion in assets associated with the stolen funds.

The latest action is intended to prevent the movement or disposal of cryptocurrency while legal proceedings continue.

However, freezing or restraining digital assets is not the same as completing their return to victims.

The ownership and eventual distribution of recovered assets will depend on legal proceedings.

Why Is North Korea Being Linked to the Investigation?

US authorities have repeatedly accused North Korean cyber groups of conducting cryptocurrency theft operations.

According to American officials, funds obtained through cybercrime may help finance government activities and prohibited weapons programmes.

North Korea has been associated with several high-profile cyber operations targeting digital financial platforms.

Cryptocurrency theft is attractive to sophisticated cybercriminal groups because digital assets can be transferred across borders quickly, although blockchain transactions can also leave records that investigators can analyse.

Another $400 Million Cybercrime Allegation

The FBI also highlighted a separate alleged cryptocurrency theft operation known as FaceStealer.

US officials said the operation involved approximately $400 million in stolen cryptocurrency over an 18-month period.

The alleged scheme involved hijacking popular messaging applications and using sophisticated social engineering methods, including deepfake videos.

Social engineering attacks manipulate individuals into revealing confidential information or granting access to accounts and systems.

The case demonstrates how artificial intelligence and digital impersonation techniques can increase the complexity of cybercrime.

What Happens to the Recovered Cryptocurrency?

The US Department of Justice is expected to pursue forfeiture proceedings.

Under this legal process, a court determines whether the assets can be legally transferred to the government or returned to legitimate owners.

This is particularly important in cryptocurrency investigations because stolen funds may pass through several wallets, exchanges and intermediary accounts.

Authorities must establish the ownership and legal status of the assets before final distribution.

A Warning for the Global Cryptocurrency Industry

The investigation has renewed questions about cybersecurity standards across cryptocurrency exchanges and digital asset platforms.

Companies operating in the sector are increasingly expected to strengthen transaction monitoring, identity verification, wallet security and international cooperation with law enforcement.

The incident also demonstrates that cryptocurrency theft is no longer limited to individual victims. Large-scale attacks can affect exchanges, investors, financial institutions, and international markets.

Conclusion: The FBI’s action against cryptocurrency assets linked to the Binance theft represents a major development in the global fight against cybercrime. However, the legal process of determining ownership and returning recovered assets remains important. The investigation also highlights the growing security risks posed by sophisticated hacking groups and AI-assisted fraud.

Source: Associated Press, FBI and US Department of Justice reporting, November 12–13, 2026.