G7 declares war on North Korean crypto hackers: $2 billion stolen in a year
At the summit in Évian, leaders of the G7 countries adopted a tough statement targeting cybercrime originating from North Korea. The focus is on large-scale cryptocurrency thefts, which have become a key source of funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. However, despite the rhetoric, the G7 has yet to propose specific mechanisms for blocking or recovering stolen digital assets.
Shocking Numbers
The scale of the threat becomes evident when looking at the statistics. In 2025 alone, North Korean hacker groups, according to my data, stole over $2.02 billion in cryptocurrencies. This is 51% more than the previous year and demonstrates that attackers have not only intensified their activities but have turned the theft of digital assets into a highly organized industry. The total volume of stolen funds over recent years has already exceeded $6.75 billion—and this is only a minimal estimate.
Why Is the G7 Powerless?
In my view, the problem lies in the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies. North Korean hackers, such as the Lazarus group, use complex mixing schemes, cross-chain bridges, and decentralized exchanges to launder funds. Without a unified database and global regulation covering all jurisdictions, any G7 appeals remain mere political declarations.
I believe the market needs not just joint statements but concrete actions: the introduction of mandatory verification for DeFi platforms, the blocking of addresses linked to North Korea at the protocol level, and international real-time intelligence sharing. Until this happens, North Korean hackers will continue to dictate the rules of the game.