Alexander Kao De Benos: the Western link in North Korean cryptocurrency operations

Alejandro Cao de Benos from Tarragona, Spain, seems to play an unusual role. According to Bloomberg, this IT consultant serves as a kind of bridge for Western businessmen looking to deal with North Korea. A semi-official representative. A cultural attaché. An enthusiast. He created the Korean Friendship Association – something like an international fan club for North Korea.

The FBI took on American crypto researcher Virgil Griffith in April 2022. Christopher Emms, a Brit from the same association, also came under scrutiny – he was organizing a conference in North Korea. By September 2025, the situation with Emms had changed somewhat. After legal battles, he avoided extradition. The US still wants to get him for alleged sanctions violations.

Kao de Benos dismisses most negative information about North Korea. He acknowledges the death penalty. Security experts say something strange – the information from the conference was allegedly already known to North Koreans. Since 2017, Pyongyang seems to have stolen billions through crypto attacks.

The status of "wanted" for Kao de Benos is not quite clear. His passport was taken by the Spanish authorities. The reason? An eight-year charge of illegal weapons. He insists that the Americans have withdrawn their request. He looks confident. He talks about victory in the first confrontation with the USA. He sees it as a sign of the right path. He intends to move forward, despite the obstacles.