North Korean Hacker Group Overtakes Tesla in Bitcoin Holdings as Trump Pushes for U.S. Crypto Supremacy
The Lazarus Group, a North Korean cybercrime syndicate, now holds more Bitcoin (BTC) than Tesla (TSLA), the electric vehicle giant led by Elon Musk, according to Arkham Intelligence data.
At present, Lazarus controls 13,441 BTC worth approximately $1.14 billion, surpassing Tesla’s 11,509 BTC stash by 16%.
How Lazarus Group Became a Major Bitcoin Holder
The Lazarus Group, infamous for its cyberattacks on financial institutions and crypto platforms, recently expanded its Bitcoin reserves after stealing $1.4 billion in ether (ETH) from crypto exchange Bybit. A portion of the stolen funds was later converted into BTC, with 12,836 BTC distributed across 9,117 unique wallets, according to Bybit CEO Ben Zhou.
Tesla’s Bitcoin Strategy: A Quiet Player in a Shifting Landscape
Tesla made waves in 2021 when it became one of the largest corporate Bitcoin holders, but unlike companies such as MicroStrategy, Tesla has not added to its BTC holdings since. Instead, it has passively held onto its Bitcoin, now ranking behind a North Korean hacking organization in BTC ownership.
Trump’s Pro-Bitcoin Vision: A Response to Foreign Crypto Influence?
This development coincides with President Donald Trump’s renewed push for U.S. leadership in cryptocurrency. Speaking on Thursday, Trump reaffirmed his goal of making the U.S. the “undisputed Bitcoin superpower and crypto capital of the world.”
With North Korean hackers now holding more Bitcoin than a Fortune 500 company, Trump’s stance could encourage more U.S. corporations to strengthen their BTC reserves, particularly as geopolitical tensions spill into the crypto space.
U.S. Government Holds Over $16 Billion in Bitcoin
Despite Tesla’s declining BTC rank, the U.S. government remains one of the largest Bitcoin holders, with 198,109 BTC worth over $16 billion—a cache built from seizures of illicit funds. Trump has hinted at treating these holdings as a strategic national reserve, underscoring Bitcoin’s growing role in U.S. economic and geopolitical policy.
As state-backed hacking groups and nation-states continue accumulating Bitcoin, the question now is: Will Tesla and other major U.S. corporations increase their Bitcoin exposure, or will the balance of power in crypto continue to shift globally?
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