theSIGNAL NEWS
1 November 2026
"Security is a process, not a product."
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World

North Korea Blamed for $6 Billion Binance Heist

The FBI says Pyongyang-linked hackers emptied the world's largest crypto exchange in minutes, in what may be history's biggest digital theft.

The FBI has named its culprit. North Korea stole more than $6 billion from Binance, the agency said on Saturday. The theft took place on or about October 29, 2026, and lasted only minutes. It is believed to be the largest cryptocurrency heist ever recorded.

The hackers took bitcoin, ethereum and stablecoins such as tether and USD Coin, which are pegged to traditional currencies. Investigators link the attack to TraderTraitor, a group of state-backed actors. The same group was blamed for the $1.5 billion Bybit hack last year.

News of the breach pushed most major cryptocurrencies lower on Friday. The money is already moving. The FBI says TraderTraitor is converting stolen assets mainly into ethereum. Next, it expects the funds to pass through decentralized finance platforms and instant swap services, which can blur the trail.

The agency has urged exchanges, blockchain analytics firms and other companies to block transactions tied to the flagged addresses.

Photo: Kanchanara / Unsplash
Cryptocurrency price charts flicker on a trading screen as markets react to the record Binance theft.
💰
$6 billion+
stolen from Binance in a matter of minutes
Discuss
  • Binance says it will repay customers from company funds. Is that enough to restore trust in crypto exchanges?
  • Why might a state like North Korea target cryptocurrency instead of traditional banks or other financial institutions?
World

Iran's Supreme Leader Warns US, Israel Against Strikes

Iran's supreme leader has warned Washington and Israel against fresh attacks. Mojtaba Khamenei told commanders any threat must meet an "immediate" response "without geographical limits". Marco Rubio said Saturday that Donald Trump has made no decision on new strikes, though he stressed the military option remains open. Reports suggest action could follow Tuesday's US midterms.…
  • Could elections in Washington and Jerusalem decide whether a pause in fighting becomes a new war?
❝
Binance will fully cover the financial impact of the funds stolen in this incident.
Binance, in a statement posted on X
World

Trump Backs Nvidia Chief After Spying Report

Donald Trump defended Nvidia boss Jensen Huang on Saturday. A New York Times report claimed Chinese intelligence had targeted him. Beijing dismissed it as groundless speculation. According to the report, US officials believe a Chinese executive linked to a Singapore data-centre firm passed information to Beijing.…
  • Can a chip executive advise Washington while selling chips to its main rival?
ASIA · World
Ship reported on fire off Oman as Iran escalation fears mount
AFRICA · World
Ebola deaths top 5,000 as fear of continent-wide spread mounts
EUROPE · World
Ukrainian evacuees reunite with family after years trapped in Russia-occupied city
GLOBAL · World
Why are US, Russia and China racing to put nuclear reactors on the moon?
theSIGNAL IN THE LAB
IVOCABULARY
heistpegged to
blur the trailfragmentedliquid
mediatinggroundless
IIGRAMMAR FOCUS
Reported speech — statements, questions, commands with tense shift
When we report what someone said, the verb usually moves one step back in time (is → was, will → would, has made → had made), and pronouns and time expressions change to fit the new viewpoint. Reported questions use normal statement word order with if/whether or a question word, and reported commands use an object plus a to-infinitive.
had · would · was · whether · to block · not to · were
  1. The FBI said that North Korea stolen more than $6 billion from Binance.
  2. Binance told customers that it cover the full financial impact of the theft.
  3. Officials said the money already moving through instant swap services.
  4. The agency urged exchanges transactions tied to the flagged addresses.
  5. Mojtaba Khamenei warned that any threat met with an immediate response.
  6. Reporters asked Marco Rubio Donald Trump had decided on new strikes.
IIIPHRASAL VERBS
Match the phrasal verb to its definition. All six appear in today’s articles.
  1. take place
  2. link to
  3. push lower
  4. pass through
  5. stay on
IVCRITICAL THINKING
Three of today's stories involve states accused of acting in the shadows: theft, military threats and alleged espionage. In each case, the public must rely on claims from officials who may have political motives, and the evidence is often not made public. How much should readers trust such accusations before proof emerges, and what role should journalists play in testing them?
VCREATIVE · HEADLINES
Write a headline for the top story in each of the following styles. One line each, no explanation:
  • TABLOID NEWSPAPER
  • LUXURY MAGAZINE
  • ACTIVIST BLOG
VIWRITING
Imagine you are an ordinary Binance customer who woke up to news of the heist. Write a short diary entry (about 120 words) describing how you felt, what you did with your savings, and whether you would still use a crypto exchange a year from now.
VIIDEGREES OF EXTREMITY
Complete each ladder from mild to strong.
  • a setback→→
  • worried→→
  • a rise→→
  • a fall→→
  • to criticise→→
  • to warn→→
VIIISPEAKING
  1. Would you keep money in cryptocurrency? What risks would worry you most?
  2. Is it ever justified to spy on allies or business leaders?
  3. How do tensions between major powers affect your daily life or country?
  4. Which is worse: a theft that takes minutes, or one that takes years?