Banned GPUs help North Korea expand cryptocurrency heist

According to recent information, report According to Chosun Ilbo, North Korea is using banned NVIDIA graphics cards (specifically the GeForce RTX 2700) to advance its artificial intelligence (AI) research.

GPUs are used for operations such as cryptocurrency theft, deepfakes, and surveillance.

This is concerning because these GPUs are subject to US export controls, which restrict exports to North Korea.

NVIDIA GPUs, such as the GeForce RTX 2700, are prohibited from export to countries such as North Korea, primarily for national security and sanctions reasons, as they are considered “dual-use” technologies, such as for artificial intelligence (AI) research and cryptography.

Despite sanctions, North Korea has been steadily building its AI capabilities for decades.

Although North Korea does not use top-of-the-line AI models, even mid-level GPUs provide significant computational power for:

Virtual currency theft by North Korea

North Korea began to show serious interest in virtual currencies around 2017. Cryptocurrency theft helps circumvent international sanctions and generate untraceable revenue.

The country is believed to have used hackers trained by state-backed forces to target cryptocurrency exchanges. The Lazarus group is the most notable group. It is believed to have ties to the Reconnaissance General Bureau (North Korea’s military intelligence agency).

The use of AI could amplify cryptocurrency theft. According to a 2025 report, North Korea-linked hacking teams are now using advanced AI tools to scan codebases and detect vulnerabilities in smart contracts. Hackers create fake recruiter profiles, often using AI to generate convincing identities and messages.