The G7 declares war on North Korean hackers: cryptocurrency thefts in the crosshairs
The leaders of the G7 at the summit in Évian made a strong statement: it is necessary to join forces to combat cryptocurrency thefts and cyberattacks originating from North Korea. The final document particularly emphasizes the link between digital thefts and the financing of Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. However, despite the strong words, no specific mechanisms for regulating the crypto sector were proposed.
The scale of the threat is confirmed by the latest data. According to our estimates, based on blockchain transaction analytics, in 2025, hacker groups affiliated with North Korea stole a record $2.02 billion in digital assets. This is 51% more than in the previous year. The total volume of stolen funds over the entire observation period has already exceeded $6.75 billion.
Interestingly, the G7 has so far limited itself to political declarations. The document contains no new sanctions or mandatory requirements for crypto exchanges. This means that the real burden of counteraction falls on private analytical firms and blockchain detectives.
My expert commentary: The 51% year-on-year increase in theft volume is an alarming signal, indicating that traditional methods of combating cybercrime in the cryptocurrency environment are failing. Without the introduction of mandatory KYC/AML standards at the protocol level and strict requirements for stablecoin liquidity, we risk seeing a figure of $3-4 billion as early as 2026. Pyongyang clearly perceives cryptocurrencies as an unlimited source of funding, and the G7 needs to move from words to action.