North Korean hackers in G7 crosshairs: $2 billion in crypto thefts in a year
Leaders of the G7 countries at the summit in Évian officially recognized cryptocurrency thefts carried out by North Korean hackers as one of the key threats to international financial stability. The final declaration emphasizes the need for coordinated action to combat these cyberattacks, which directly finance Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.
The numbers speak for themselves: in 2025, hacker groups affiliated with North Korea stole $2.02 billion in crypto assets. This is 51% more than in the previous year. The total volume of stolen funds since tracking such incidents began has exceeded $6.75 billion. These figures reflect not just an increase in the number of attacks, but the systemic nature of the threat: North Korea has turned hacks of crypto exchanges and DeFi protocols into one of its main sources of foreign currency revenue.
Why doesn't the G7 propose specific measures?
Despite the loud statements, the summit's final document does not contain specific mechanisms or sanctions tools aimed specifically at the crypto sector. This raises questions. It is obvious that traditional approaches — freezing assets on centralized exchanges — are working less and less effectively. North Korean hackers actively use mixers, cross-chain bridges, and decentralized platforms, making tracking and blocking funds extremely difficult.
My assessment: The G7 declaration is a political signal, not an operational plan. The market needs not just calls to action, but the implementation of unified KYC/AML standards for the DeFi sector and mandatory licensing of crypto mixers at the international level. Until this happens, North Korean hackers will continue to launder billions, exploiting differences in jurisdictions and the technological complexity of the blockchain.