Bitcoin Forum

Hello guys, so I am just sitting here and wondering how the people of the North Korea are fairing as regards the huge benefit cryptocurrency has brought to every people. I don't  get to hear of any development from that isolated nation bordering South-Korea. I understand the will of the people is heavily subverted by their maximum leader otherwise nicknamed The little rocket man. I read of how poverty is ravaging that nation, freedom for her people to trade cryptocurrency can turn the tides around as it's doing in some poverty stricken nations that the people have embraced bitcoin and its benefit. Do these people even have access to any exchange in the world? and can they safely convert their crypto asset to their native currency and withdraw same without offending The little rocket man? I once read exchange hacking have been traced to NK, meaning some crypto activities are going on there.

I am just concerned on the freedom cryptocurrency brings could be extended to this nation.

There's a man before who are lecturing about cryptocurencies but he end up dying.

The said crypto activities must be highly limited to Pyongyang and probably a major city or two more. All this must also be strictly sanctioned by the government, or perhaps even directly involving the government itself.

Cryptocurrency cannot bring freedom to a place where majority of the people are too poor to even own a smart phone, where internet is limited to the government and a few powerful people perhaps, where stable electricity is not even existing, and so on and so forth.

We all know that North Korea is really strict when it comes to people who want to have their freedom in the governments own hand but they have nothing to do but to follow the law. I think that the cryptocurrency that's happening there is life threatening and can make you go to jail once you got caught. Maybe, the cryptocurrency in North Korea is regulated only by the authority and not with the normal citizen because they want the asset to become beneficial to the economy of the country as a whole. Plus, they can't have any access with the internet and social medias properly that's why it is very hard to live in North Korea most especially if the country prohibits you to experience a normal and free life.

The majority of the citizens are already deprived of their daily needs, there's no way they'll venture into Bitcoin until a change of leadership takes place. With all the censorship, I even doubt they have Internet access there, let alone knowledge on Bitcoin.

With the recent news on his health issues, it's highly likely his sister would take over. But then, we won't know if she'd follow his path or start opening up to other countries. If the latter happens, it'd be interesting to watch.

A cryptocurrency in North Korea?!?Are you kidding me?
Only the North Korean communist and military elite have computers with access to internet.
Exchange hacking have been traced to North Korea,but that doesn't mean that there are any crypto enthusiasts in that country,only some hackers working for their totalitarian regime.
The "little rocket man" would invest more into rockets and weapons,instead of adopting blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies.

As far as I know, the vast majority of the population of North Korea don't have access to global Internet. Internet connection is a privilege of a very narrow circle of people who have the power over others. The others have to use the internal network (Intranet), which has only websites approved by the ruling party. I doubt that they are able to use cryptocurrency, they even can't download any wallets or run a full node. Being in such conditions, there is no possibility for them to obtain financial freedom through bitcoin. But those who have opportunities to use crypto don't need freedom whatsoever.

The higher officials might have access to internet and they can freely exchange crypto. If you have heard of the news last time about Ethereum dev, they're really diving into this technology and looking towards it because they can benefit from it and they see it.

Here's that news: US Arrests Ethereum Developer for Training North Koreans to Evade Sanctions (https://www.coindesk.com/us-arrests-ethereum-developer-for-training-north-koreans-to-evade-sanctions)

No news from North Korea makes me happy because of the dictatorship there. Nothing is done through the will of he people. Only one man decides the fate of the rest. Even if there is support for cryptocurrency in that country today, the supreme president can withdraw that support tomorrow without anyone challenging him and the while thing is back to zero. I hate dictators.

North Korea? They have this group, Lazarus Group (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazarus_Group). A state sponsored cyber criminals group and they are to blame on some of the South Korea's exchange hack.

We all know that North Korea's regime wanted to control everyone and everything, so I highly doubt that individuals are given the chance to own crypto, much less having access to the internet. If there are people who have crypto, it is the government thru their hacking and used crypto to circumvent trade embargo.

Is it really true? Where did you get the information or the article about the thing? Can you put it here so we can read more about that so we can assure that you say it right because as far as I know, there is a massive portion of people who cannot access global internet and as we all know the internet is the most important thing in the crypto currency that is why some people consider the internet as a threat in cryptocurrency as what I have read in the other post.

Well said, I have read this thing before, I don't think why North Korea let this happen to their people, the internet is very important for every people, it our part of our daily lives.

North Korea is a place which I don't understand why still exists , the ruler should himself be hanged and the people have to start living.
The country is very unfortunate , if someone even talks about something that the government does not approve of , they are killed , mercilessly.
Cryptocurrencies ? People are not even allowed to wear makeup. The internet is something only the rich can afford , I do not think people will be able to use cryptocurrencies there considering what comes with it .
I hope in the near future we see good advancements there , peaceful where people can actually do whatever they want and not live like cattles.

We all know that North Korea is one of the most strict countries for over the world and they are highly restricted all of their people in the community and some of them does not have rights enough to make changes like adopting the use of cryptocurrency before China already accepting the use of the bitcoin because they want to make changes and adaptation but I think they have the current plans about the bitcoins but in North Korea, they have prohibited the transactions between other countries methods of the process because they want to maintain their own. But still, if North Korea would like to make a change about the transaction they will make acceptance of cryptocurrency but today it takes time before they accept because they are focusing on their country first before they made a move of adaptation.

Well, that pretty much sums it up right there.

While it's probably possible for higher-up individuals, I highly doubt North Korean officials will let Bitcoin get into the hands of the masses, and they'll make an example of those who try.

Well, that's the system of how they grew tbh. Not like we could do anything there, since the government is basically nipping the possible source of problems right from the buds itself. Even if it was a small issue, as long as they could determine it goes against their rules, then they'd do it.

The country itself doesn't allow their people in accessing the global internet tbh, giving them no chance of actually trying to bypass the government systems that have been implemented. Probably only a select few even own some form of crypto, and they'd probably be hiding it itself somehow one way or another from literally everyone else. I don't even think that they have that much knowledge with regards to the development of cryptocurrency right now .

North Korea is a nation with very strict policies, and you must adhere to it.
If there are traces of crypto currency from there; then it shows that people conduct blockchain and crypto currency transactions in the country on a rather lowkey off record practices.

If you are in North Korea, and you cannot keep calm and trade bitcoin and crypto currency like other silent traces, then decentralization is not for you.

If North Korea is mining, its the State that's doing it. There is no way people would be able to purchase any coin with their North Korean currency.

They are not really connected to the Internet, so aside from the rare embassy high ranking official, such thing is impossible. The State officials copy the things they seem fit from the real Internet to the State isolated network, and most access to this content occurs at public State institutions anyway.

So, no. Forget it. The State has nearly absolute control over the individuals there.

It will be very difficult for the people of North Korea to have access like other countries in connection with the internet. This means that it will be very difficult for them to be able to have cryptocurrency or exchange it for fiat money in their country because the assertiveness of a leader will only benefit his own country. to be respected more by other countries.

Although now in a state of crisis a main leader and there are rumors about being replaced by a sister so I think understanding will also be the same as now so it's likely to be difficult as well as other countries have freedom.

The average North Korean has zero hope of ever getting anywhere near the normal internet other than on smuggled Chinese phones. They won't have any money to buy any even if they managed that. Even the most privileged North Koreans only get government intranet access.

Crypto is likely to be solely the preserve of government hackers and the extreme elite.

Chances are, the sister is way more dictative than her brother once she takes over.

One look at her face and the we could already hear boss music.

For all kind of illegal activities NK uses China as its base. There are many videos on youtube about it. For cryptocurrency they might be doing the same they might be employing hackers from China who in turn are doing these hacks.

Rocket man might not be living any more in this world. I did heard some news about his death. I also heard his sister will be taking over the country.

The above news might not be true.

This is what I only think of it, even if North Korea welcomes the use of cryptocurrency it would not be beneficial to all its people but only for those in higher ladders. I have watched one of travel vlog in North Korea, it looks strange because their airport has nothing, no people, no staffs not unlike the normal airport and if there is any they are always escorted by korean  police. Do you imaging crypto in that country? there is no future at all but it will indeed help the community. They only even have one televised channel for people to watch and that is the news channel, no doubt there are lots of people tried to escape North Korea.

Are you talking about Virgil Griffith? The man who lectured in North Korea (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/02/nyregion/north-korea-virgil-griffin-cyptocurrency-arrest.html) about Bitcoin and blockchain and then got later on arrested by the US? Because if you are he is still alive and still facing charges against him by the FBI claiming that he provided the North Koreans a "highly technical" information that could help them evade sanctions and do money laundering. Of course this charge is bull shit and they need to provide an evidence or even the whole presentation of Griffith to prove this one but from the news I have been seeing this is none other than a witch hunt that the US authorities do to their own citizens involved in the crypto industry. They are assuming that the North Koreans doesn't know anything about crypto even before Virgil showed up to them but this is highly unlikely.

people in North Korea are trained to live a simple life. Commoners dont have access to internet so how come some hackers are from NoKor?
only high ranking people are allowed to use computers and it is not logical for them to hack for money.
on the other hand, legit hackers will surely use location that are not possible to locate so hackers are pointed at North Korea.
 

They're even having electricity issues, no way owning a computer would even be possible without frequent power trips. This is the satellite image of NK at night; the dark region.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Korean_Peninsula_at_night_from_space.jpg

North Korea facing some serious troubles as they are lacking of basic needs like drinking water electricity food so thinking about cryptocurrency is just no way because censor policy is very stick and all things under control of state officials no one can take any risk about this.

No internet?  Its no place for someone who is actively supporting blockchain and bitcoin. If you have been enjoying your life with access to everything and suddenly put in NK you'd be begging to get out of there in less than a day. Unless you enjoy watching people praising Kim as their God like Dennis Rodman.

But there was an incident where there is a conference in NK that an ETH developer was caught teaching their government regarding laundering, I have no idea what happens next but if Kim has an interest to blockchain, it will most likely be like China's DCEP.

I reckon Dennis also fears Kim too to a certain extent. Of course he can't talk shit in the media or else he's gonna be on that guy's hitlist.

Indeed. Internet access is not for everyone in north korea, so how come hackers are really from north korea. There also no chance for people in North Korea will learn about cryptocurrency and blockchain technology because they only focus themselves from making their own super weapon.

Not possible or better the still the very few people doing it are just using it in secret. North Korea is one of the countries that is highly censored and activities of the people are being monitored 24/7. I am sure the day they would have a change of government the whole nation will be happy.

The only area worth paying attention to is government hacking. I'm sure they would take grrreat pleasure cleaning out American companies. So far it seems to South Koreans and the Japanese who are the stupidest and leave themselves wide open.

I would love to know how they manage to launder the funds they spirit away.

Yes, North Korea has been targeting Japan and South Korea and to a certain extend American exchanges too. They probably work with other criminals like in this report Chinese nationals helped North Korea launder stolen cryptocurrency, US officials say (https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/2/21161976/chinese-bitcoin-cryptocurrency-north-korea-hacking). Or maybe those just submit fake KYC's that they have stolen and used it to open up an exchange account and then cash it out.

I know that in North Korea the internet usage is prohibited from normal people and the only people that can use the internet are high-level officials of the hermit kingdom. There are also some small amount of computers with internet in their universities but it is monitored in a very strict manner. These are the global internet access where the majority of the people are prohibited to use it.
But on the other hand North Korea has its own internet called Kwangmyong and it can only be used on their country and it is not connected to the world so the use of Bitcoin is currently impossible right now.

North Korea has a very strict rules in their country so I am sure that their citizens have no freedom in crypto as what I read that their internet is very limited to the higher ups and the sites are also very limited. In this scenario, only the government has the freedom to do what they like and if they were able to hack some crypto, I am sure that they are looking for some route in order to cash out the crypto into their fiat money.

But I am hoping that North will become very open in the future as what I read that their president has been declared dead because of the heart surgery failure and if it is true then they have a chance to change if the new president will open a path for crypto.

Kim Jong Un is rumored to be dead (https://nypost.com/2020/04/25/north-korean-dictator-kim-jong-un-rumored-to-be-dead/). Seeing as North Korea's billions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency was amassed under his dictatorship, will a succession in North Korea change their course? Could it have any implications for the Bitcoin market, given how much they own?


They use complex peel chains and mixing, then use Chinese agents to sell to OTC brokers who interface with Huobi, OKEx, and other lax exchanges. It's a game of cat-and-mouse that North Korea has mostly been winning, due to how slow law enforcement is to even charge and sanction co-conspirators (https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/two-chinese-nationals-charged-laundering-over-100-million-cryptocurrency-exchange-hack).

actually, when I saw that image way way before, I felt sad for North Koreans. It is like they are deprived of some basic needs here and no one is ready to step up to change how they live. I really hope that one day someone will have the courage to change the future of these people.

so I am thinking, is there ever a North Korean that is crypto user and the government doesn't know about it? because there will be some elite class also in this country and enjoying the privilege of being in the upper class.


They said that it is only rumor about Kim Jong Un being dead. But if we will not see him in the next coming months, then the rumor might be true.

I've watched countless documentaries on North Korea and it's clear that very few even know how computers work.  The normal every day person likely has no computers skills what so ever of any kind.  They sure as hell don't have any access to the world wide web.  There is no chance they have any access to an exchange.  Even if they did, how would they use it? They couldn't use it anywhere there, nor could they use it to buy something online.  My hope is Kim Jong really dies as rumored he may, and a new movement carries forward. 

Nice to hear what will happen in North Korea about cryptocurrency, they will accept bitcoin as digital currency or not. North Korea president look danger and have new way how to make his country more power full and give access with bitcoin and altcoin to be legal currency payment there, nice for waiting will legal or not bitcoin as digital currency payment.

I really highly doubt that they even have access to computer. I found a Blog/Documentary about the citizens of north Korea, most workers there who is working near a computer doesn't even know how to use it so when the interview was being made, they just fake using a computer, so I think only few knows how to use computer and internet there. They even filter internet and even filter televisions to control the citizens. Unless they really changed their government, there will only be a few select individual who can or will use cryptocurrency.

Any link to the article, I'm sure the communist party do not want anybody in their land lecturing without their permission and about decentralization and freedom, I can teach anywhere in the world even in a dessert but never in a country like North Korea.

I doubt anyone in North Korea has cryptocurrency. Because according to the information I read, that the internet network is prohibited and even
though there is supervised by their leader. Too risky to conduct crypto transactions in North Korea, because if caught by the government could be
threatened with severe punishment.Besides, North Korea's population is poor, I doubt they can invest in cryptocurrency. If there really is a
cryptocurrency transaction in North Korea, I'm sure it was the government there who did it.

It appears with rumors of the death of the North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un is still a polemic where there has been no official publication whether the news is true or not.
With limitations there to operate any type of computer but they are able to hack into the exchange, is this a citizen of North Korea or from China? a little polemic where in the news with this article how to influence the price of bitcoin with the death of Kim Jong Un.

https://u.today/heres-how-kim-jong-uns-presumed-death-can-impact-bitcoin-btc-price

Many people suggest buying bitcoin, what is this? or indeed this is the news for the halving so that more requests or indeed influenced by Kim Jong.

North Korea will know alongside everyone else that a large part of the future conflicts and power games will take place online. No way are they not going to have trained hackers to let rip. They'll be part of the military.

As for that 'article', that's got to be the most piss weak effort I've read all year, and they cite Zerohedge to boot.

I've been watching and reading quite a lot of stuff about North Korea lately, so I think I might know the answer. People in North Korea live in poverty and under total control. Households have old computers, some people have smartphones and tablets, but it's mainly the riches who live in the capital. When you're using a North-Korean version of an iPad, the system makes occasional screenshots of what you're opening as well as saves browser history. This data can be accessed by the authorities. If you're caught somehow accessing material that did not come from North Korea (for instance, some people smuggle movies from China), just for watching it you're guaranteed to end up in prison. So as you can imagine, using cryptos would be extremely risky there. But there's a bigger problem: there are only around a thousand highly secretive places where one can get Internet access in North Korea, and of course, the people who access it are high-ranking officials. Now, since most Bitcoin transactions are done with the help of the Internet, there's just no way people would use it. They have an intranet in North Korea which is like a North-Korean-wide version of the Internet but it's completely centralized, censored, and monitored, so I am sure there are no crypto wallets or anything like that there. At the same time, I remember seeing articles a while ago about North Korea possessing Bitcoins, and it can be true, but this is definitely high-ranking government officials, so it doesn't count, as it would in no way help North Korean people.

Just today I read an article about KIM being dead but kept secret.  There were news about it https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1273919/Kim-Jong-un-latest-updates-North-Korea-leader-dead-reports-reaction-world

This is because he wasn't seen in the public for days, some news says he is in the vegetative state after surgery - liposuction probably.  This is what will happen since they censored all the time and then people will just speculate.

Thanks for this, this was bad for such developers to be aiding a nation that has zero tolerance for human right and who have deliberately lead her people into self inflicted poverty and only some powerful elite having access to the internet. Whatever can be done to ensure the sister who may succeed the current supreme leader don't toe the same line with the dictators should be done.

Thank you for this exposition. I really could imagine how the whole system is centralized, that is cruel wickedness and the Chinese communist government is at the forefront of supporting the ideas and policies of this inept NK led government, just read some medical experts have been deployed to North Korea to access his health. I have gained a lot from many comments here.

As long as there is no democracy. People don't have the freedom to rule against the government. And cryptocurrency for sure will never exist in that country. Unless if the government will allow this to run. But probably, they will think that crypto might a threat with their securiry and economy.
So for sure, having a little freedom is not a total independence for all.

difficult to get freedom in the countries of North Korea because the country is led by a ruler who sees people who are weak and must follow the rules of the state of North Korea is very tight even all on limited like watching tv they limit only allowed to watch national TV limited electrical limited the communist government would not be happy if they do not oppress people forever. North Korea will ban the use of state cryptocurrency them until the ruler they die and transform ruler can give freedom to its people.

But recently some huge amount of bitcoin was transferred from Kim jong un Trezor wallet to coinbase about 6000Btc around hald a billion dollar. Nobody heard about that lately?

Too many mysteries and secrets in the closed country. All the lives of its citizens are governed by a very strict state, the internet is monitored. So I cannot say much, surely only certain groups controlled by the government carry out activities related to cryptocurrency. In fact, many rumors circulated that there is a group of hackers from the country who were given the task to modify the virus to steal crypto assets.

I never heard about this news since North Korea is very limited and it’s hard to hear the real news from that country. All i know is that, people are limited to use internet and they can’t betray their country’s policy or else they will face consequences. Cryptocurrency is North Korea is also limited, they probably have their own fiat money online just like China.

Can you link the article or the source of where you've taken that news? I mean I've never heard this news before and if this is really true, then the medias would be flying all over the place making articles about this piece of news. I don't know, this news might be fake too since the information we get in north korea is very limited because they restrict everything there.

We all know that North Korea is very strict when it comes to laws, rules and regulations, and its people. Even internet is also limited and they can't have an access to their social media because the internet is only allowable when it is prohibited by the authority or government's purposes and transaction only. It is really hard to send cryptocurrency offline and it really requires internet so maybe the cryptocurrency in North Korea only regulated by their government. Maybe, somehow people are scared to violate some laws in North Korea because of the punishment that can cost their lives so maybe the use of cryptocurrency in their country is only limited. There are barriers between people's rights and using a cryptocurrency.

If democracy is for the people, expect North Korea to keep it away from them. If it means their freedom, expect the hermit kingdom to deprive them of it. Now, if cryptocurrency will indeed provide freedom for the people, then crypto will forever be alien to the ordinary North Koreans. But if crypto will at the same time provide the government itself a nice way to get away from certain international sanctions and be able to continue with their illicit transactions, then they will certainly exploit it. This is perhaps the reason why crypto exists in North Korea even if the government itself is keeping freedom away from its very own people.

I agree with you, the possibility of knowing what is in the country with super tight internet network supervision and closed to all sectors, of course it is not easy to know the situation. but it does not happen for people who work for the country and regulate for the interests of the country. they have experts who also understand in the field of crypto, which cannot be underestimated by the possibility that they have orders to work for the interests and income of the country.

Sure did.

https://i.imgur.com/1xdQft3.png?1

It's certainly a turnaround for the books compared to Coinbase's normal policies but I guess they decided to kick back a little and make themselves some real money. Hey, why not?

I wonder if it is possible for North korean to leave their country in search for a better life If the government can be that strict. I am also very sure that bitcoin may not be accessible to the citizen not to talk about trading it when they make use of intranet. North Korea is a strict country an such will not allow cryptocurrencies

I'm not sure if any North Koreans know what Bitcoin is. North Korea is one of the most closed countries to the outside world, so not many people know what is happening in their country

from the news that I hear. North Korean citizens' internet access is closely monitored by the government

When it comes to North Korea there is only slight information we do know about their developments because mostly they don't tell other countries about what else do they accomplished except their huge numbers of bombs and cannons. Maybe the higher rank officials have access to some known exchanges and they are currently trading some cryptocurrencies in the decentralized exchanges. they just don't want to publicize their doing because that will bring shame to their nation base on their understanding.

thats not cool  . while every country always do their best to make them noticed but north korea is acting oppositely  ? promoting bombs and canons might look like they are cocky enough   . it was like they are showing that they are powerful  .

 lastly why someone will hide the use of exchange or crypto related stuff  ? there is nothing to be ashamed on here but using cryptos is verry proudful and for sure other people will be interested on it as long as they knew it from someone else   .

Almost everything is illegal there.

Western fashion? Illegal.
Consuming South Korean media? Illegal
International calls? Illegal

Could you post in your native language then we can pay for our own translation if we feel it's worth reading? This is possibly the most nonsensical post this week.

If it means what I think you want it to mean then it's still totally meaningless.