North Korea’s Lazarus Group Surpasses Tesla in Bitcoin Holdings as Trump Calls for U.S. Crypto Dominance

In a striking development, the Lazarus Group, a North Korean cybercrime organization, now holds more Bitcoin (BTC) than Tesla (TSLA), the electric vehicle giant led by Elon Musk, according to data from Arkham Intelligence.

As of today, Lazarus Group controls 13,441 BTC valued at $1.14 billion, exceeding Tesla’s 11,509 BTC stash by 16%.

How Lazarus Group Built Its Crypto Empire

Lazarus Group’s growing Bitcoin reserves come in the wake of a $1.4 billion hack targeting crypto exchange Bybit last month. The group initially stole large amounts of ether (ETH) before converting portions into Bitcoin. Bybit CEO Ben Zhou confirmed that 12,836 BTC was distributed across 9,117 unique wallets, making Lazarus a major Bitcoin player.

Tesla’s Bitcoin Bet: Holding Strong but Losing Ground

Tesla made headlines four years ago when it became one of the largest corporate Bitcoin holders. Since then, Musk has kept Tesla’s BTC untouched, positioning it as the fourth-largest publicly listed company in terms of Bitcoin reserves. However, with no recent acquisitions, Tesla has now been overtaken by a rogue cybercriminal syndicate.

Trump’s Pro-Bitcoin Stance: A Catalyst for Corporate Action?

This shift in Bitcoin ownership comes as President Donald Trump is doubling down on his commitment to making the U.S. a global leader in cryptocurrency adoption. Speaking on Thursday, Trump vowed to establish the country as the “undisputed Bitcoin superpower and crypto capital of the world.”

With Lazarus Group amassing more BTC than one of America’s most innovative companies, will Tesla—and other U.S. corporations—respond by increasing their Bitcoin investments?

The U.S. Government’s Crypto Reserves Reach $16 Billion

While Tesla lags behind, the U.S. government remains one of the world’s largest Bitcoin holders, with 198,109 BTC worth over $16 billion, seized from criminal enterprises. Trump recently referred to these reserves as a strategic asset, hinting at a possible shift in government crypto policy.

As the battle for Bitcoin dominance heats up, Tesla’s future role in the crypto space remains uncertain. Will Musk’s company reclaim its position, or will state-backed cybercriminals and pro-crypto policymakers shape the next phase of Bitcoin’s evolution?