The G7 has set its sights on North Korean hackers: cryptocurrency thefts in the crosshairs of world leaders
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations have made a decisive statement aimed at combating cyber threats from North Korea. In the final document of the summit in Évian, they emphasized the need for joint efforts to counter large-scale cryptocurrency thefts and other cybercrimes actively perpetrated by North Korean hackers. This is a clear signal from the global community: the cryptocurrency sector is becoming a zone of strategic security.
Special attention in the statement is given to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, but notably, no specific mechanisms or concrete sanctions measures regarding the crypto industry have been proposed yet. This suggests that the G7 is currently at the stage of a political declaration rather than practical action. Nevertheless, the very fact of including cryptocurrency topics on the highest-level agenda is an important precedent.
The numbers speak for themselves. According to data from the analytical firm Chainalysis, North Korean hacker groups stole approximately $2.02 billion worth of crypto assets in 2025 alone. This figure is 51% higher than the results of the previous year. Analysts estimate the total volume of stolen funds since the start of their activities to be at least $6.75 billion. This is not just statistics—it is financing for a regime that continues to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Expert analysis: The sharp increase in theft volumes in 2025 is linked to the sophistication of hacker tactics: attacks on DeFi protocols, bridges, and centralized exchanges have become more targeted. The G7 will have to move from general calls to creating a unified system for tracking and freezing suspicious transactions; otherwise, the crypto industry risks becoming not only a victim but also a tool for circumventing sanctions. Without strict regulatory decisions, these numbers will only grow.