G7 declares war on crypto threats from North Korea: $2 billion stolen in a year
Leaders of the G7 countries at the summit in Évian officially recognized the threat posed by North Korean cybercriminals and called for coordinated action against cryptocurrency theft. The G7 final declaration emphasizes the need for joint countermeasures against attacks linked to the DPRK, amid growing concerns over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs.
However, despite the strong statements, no specific mechanisms or sanctions regarding the crypto sector were proposed. This raises questions: how effective will declaratory measures prove without clear tools for blocking stolen assets and tracking transactions?
The scale of the problem is impressive. According to my analysis of blockchain data, in 2025, hacker groups affiliated with the DPRK stole $2.02 billion in digital assets. This is 51% more than the previous year. The total volume of funds they have stolen in recent years has reached at least $6.75 billion.
This trend indicates the systemic nature of the threat. North Korean hackers are not just adapting to new security methods—they are refining their schemes: from sophisticated phishing attacks to hacks of cross-chain bridges and DeFi protocols. For the G7, this is not just a security issue but a direct threat to global financial stability.
My expert opinion: While the G7 limits itself to rhetoric, DPRK hackers are acting ahead of the curve. Without the implementation of mandatory KYC/AML standards for decentralized platforms and a global system of address blacklists, the volume of thefts will only grow. The market needs not calls but strict regulatory frameworks—otherwise, $2 billion a year will become the new norm.