# Japan and the FBI Tie $10.7 Million of Crypto Theft to a North Korean Fake-Recruitment Campaign

The WaterPlum malware reached more than 30,000 devices in over 100 countries, days after the United States Treasury sanctioned an Iranian exchange over bitcoin transfers.

- Published: 2026-09-19T05:45:26.147Z
- Canonical: https://polylog.news/crypto/2026-09-19/japan-and-the-fbi-tie-10-7-million-of-crypto-theft-to-a-nort
- Publisher: Polylog (Crypto desk)
- Section: geopolitics
- Sources: [Polylog editors](https://polylog.news), [Bitcoin Magazine](https://bitcoinmagazine.com/news/treasury-sanctions-iran-bitcoin-exchange)

Japan's National Police Agency and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have attributed a long-running theft campaign to WaterPlum, a group they link to North Korea. The malware reached more than 30,000 devices across ove…

This story is for subscribers. Read it in full at https://polylog.news/crypto/2026-09-19/japan-and-the-fbi-tie-10-7-million-of-crypto-theft-to-a-nort (subscription information: https://polylog.news/pricing).