G7 targets North Korean hackers: crypto thefts reach a new level
At the recent summit in Evian, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) made a sharp statement: efforts must be consolidated to combat cryptocurrency theft and cybercrimes originating from North Korea. Although the final document expressed concern over Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, no specific mechanisms were proposed to block cryptocurrency flows. This raises questions: how effective are political declarations without clear tools for regulating digital assets?
Figures that speak for themselves
The scale of the threat is confirmed by dry statistics. According to my data, in 2025, hacker groups affiliated with North Korea stole a record $2.02 billion in cryptocurrencies. This is 51% more than in 2024. The total volume of assets stolen by them in recent years has already exceeded $6.75 billion. This is not about isolated attacks, but about a systemic threat that requires immediate action at the infrastructure level.
Why is the G7 silent on crypto regulation?
Notably, despite the loud statements, G7 leaders proposed neither new sanctions mechanisms nor requirements for crypto exchanges to block suspicious wallets. This may be because real levers of influence over decentralized finance (DeFi) and anonymous coins are extremely limited. North Korean hackers have long been using complex mixing schemes and cross-chain bridges, making fund tracking nearly impossible without global coordination.
My view on the situation
As an analyst, I believe that the current G7 efforts are only a first step. Without the introduction of mandatory "whitelists" for crypto services and the creation of an international registry of suspicious addresses, North Korean hackers will continue to withdraw billions with impunity. The next summit must move from rhetoric to action, otherwise 2026 could set a new anti-record.