The G7 calls for global coordination against North Korean crypto threats.
At a recent summit in Évian, the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) adopted a joint statement emphasizing the need for coordinated action against cryptocurrency thefts and cybercrimes originating from North Korea. The document also expressed deep concern over Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, but no specific mechanisms for combating threats in the crypto sphere were proposed.
This statement is not just diplomatic rhetoric but a signal of the growing threat posed by the North Korean crypto sector. According to my estimates, based on Chainalysis data, hacker groups linked to North Korea stole $2.02 billion in digital assets in 2025. This is a 51% increase compared to 2024, when the volume of thefts amounted to approximately $1.34 billion. The cumulative damage from their activities in recent years is estimated at least $6.75 billion.
Notably, the G7 did not propose new sanctions or regulatory measures specifically targeting the cryptocurrency sector. This may indicate that member countries have not yet reached a consensus on how to effectively block North Korea's financial flows through decentralized exchanges, mixers, and offshore platforms. Without concrete steps—such as strengthening KYC/AML standards on a global level or creating a system for rapid intelligence sharing—such calls risk remaining mere declarations.
My expert assessment: The 51% year-over-year increase in theft volumes demonstrates that North Korean hackers are not only adapting to existing barriers but also actively exploiting new vulnerabilities, such as insider attacks on DeFi protocols and hacks of multi-signature wallets. The G7 needs to move from general statements to creating a unified crypto intelligence platform; otherwise, by 2026, we risk seeing figures exceeding $3 billion per year.