To identify potential North Korean workers, crypto companies should be vigilant about inconsistencies in their employees' stories, such as claims of being distracted by a non-existent earthquake. A recent investigation by Sam Kessler has shed light on North Korea's successful efforts to place its workers on crypto-company payrolls. The probe found that numerous crypto companies, including well-established blockchain projects like Cosmos Hub and Fantom, have inadvertently hired IT workers from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Prominent blockchain developer Zaki Manian estimates that over 50% of incoming resumes in the crypto industry are likely from North Korea.
Meanwhile, a report from Lattice VC shows that over 80% of crypto startups that announced seed rounds in 2022 are still active, defying expectations of a higher fail rate. The CoinDesk 20 index of blue-chip digital assets outperformed the S&P 500 and gold in September, with the NEAR token leading the charge with a 36% gain.