The G7 calls for a global fight against crypto threats from North Korea.
At the recent summit in Évian, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) issued a strong statement targeting North Korea's cybercriminal activities. The joint document emphasizes the need to consolidate efforts to combat cryptocurrency thefts and other cybercrimes originating from North Korean hacker groups. Of particular concern is that these attacks not only destabilize financial markets but also directly fund Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.
However, despite the strong rhetoric, the G7 did not propose specific mechanisms or separate regulatory measures for the crypto sector. This leaves open the question of how exactly protection against these threats will be built in practice.
Scale of Damage: Record Figures for 2025
According to my data, gathered from open analytical sources, North Korean hacker activity reached an all-time high in 2025. The total amount of stolen digital assets was approximately $2.02 billion, a 51% increase over the previous year. This is an alarming signal that indicates a systemic rise in both the technical sophistication and operational audacity of these groups.
The cumulative volume of funds they have stolen since the start of their active operations, in my estimation, has already exceeded $6.75 billion. These figures demonstrate that North Korea has turned cryptocurrency theft into one of the key sources of its "shadow budget," bypassing traditional financial sanctions.
My comment: While the G7 limits itself to general declarations, North Korean hackers continue to modernize their methods, using complex phishing schemes, DeFi protocol exploits, and private key theft. Without the implementation of mandatory KYC/AML standards at the exchange and protocol level, as well as the creation of an international registry of suspicious wallets, these attacks will only multiply. The market needs not calls to action, but tough, coordinated measures.