World news • 13 November 2026
US authorities announce major asset recovery
The FBI said US authorities had seized or obtained court authority to restrain more than $1.2 billion in cryptocurrency connected to a theft from Binance last month. The case involves an estimated $6.3 billion of stolen assets, described as one of the largest cryptocurrency thefts on record. The announcement concerns assets recovered or legally restrained, not necessarily money already returned to victims.
What investigators allege
US investigators have attributed the Binance incident to TraderTraitor, a hacking group linked by American officials to North Korea. According to the Associated Press, governments and private-sector partners together have frozen more than $2.7 billion associated with the breach. A court process will be needed to determine ownership and forfeiture of the restrained holdings.
A separate alleged fraud operation
The FBI also announced allegations against another campaign called FaceStealer, which authorities say obtained approximately $400 million over 18 months. Investigators described social engineering involving hijacked messaging accounts and manipulated video. These allegations should be distinguished from court findings and from the separate Binance case.
Why crypto tracing matters
Public blockchains can record transactions permanently, but moving stolen funds across services and wallets complicates investigations. The case highlights the importance of exchange security, cooperation across jurisdictions and legal procedures for returning funds. Binance customers should rely on official communications rather than messages claiming to arrange immediate reimbursement.
Sources and editorial note
Reporting from the cited news organisation. This article is an independent summary of the information available on 13 November 2026; the featured image is illustrative and does not necessarily show the event.
