The G7 declares war on North Korean hackers: crypto thefts in the crosshairs of world leaders
The global threat from cybercriminals operating under the auspices of North Korea is forcing the world's leading economies to join forces. The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) at a recent summit in Evian adopted a joint statement emphasizing the need for coordinated action against cryptocurrency theft and other cybercrimes originating from North Korea.
In the official document published following the meeting, special attention is paid to the growing activity of hacker groups linked to Pyongyang. These attacks, targeting cryptocurrency exchanges, DeFi protocols, and private investors, are viewed not merely as financial crimes but as a direct source of funding for North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. However, despite the tough rhetoric, no specific mechanisms or sanctions against the crypto sector were proposed in the final communiqué.
The scale of the threat is confirmed by fresh data from the analytical platform Chainalysis. In 2025 alone, hackers affiliated with North Korea stole digital assets worth $2.02 billion. This figure shows an alarming 51% increase compared to the previous year. In total, according to expert estimates, the cumulative amount of funds stolen by North Korean groups in recent years has exceeded $6.75 billion.
Cryptalist Analytical Commentary: The G7 statement is an important but rather political signal than a practical guide to action. Without specific mechanisms for blocking addresses at the protocol level and without introducing mandatory KYC/AML procedures for DeFi platforms, these calls will remain mere declarations. The market needs not words, but real protection tools; otherwise, the volume of thefts will only grow, turning cryptocurrencies into the main channel for money laundering for rogue regimes.