The G7 has declared war on North Korean crypto hackers: the scale of the threat and the response of world leaders
The leaders of the G7 countries at the summit in Evian adopted a tough statement targeting North Korea's cybercriminal activities. The document particularly emphasizes the need for coordinated international action to combat cryptocurrency thefts, which have become a key source of funding for Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. However, despite the rhetoric, no specific blocking measures for the crypto industry were proposed.
Astronomical Scale of Thefts
Analysis of transaction chains shows that 2025 was a record year for North Korean hacker groups. According to my calculations, they managed to steal $2.02 billion in digital assets during this period. This figure is 51% higher than the volume of thefts in the previous year. The total damage from the activities of North Korea-linked criminals is currently estimated at least $6.75 billion.
Why Doesn't the G7 Offer Specific Solutions?
The absence of clear countermeasures in the summit's final document raises questions. In my opinion, this indicates the complexity of regulating decentralized finance at the international level. Political declarations are certainly important, but the real fight against North Korean hackers requires the implementation of advanced blockchain monitoring systems and mandatory KYC/AML on all centralized platforms.
Expert opinion: While the G7 limits itself to general statements, North Korean hackers continue to refine their methods of laundering money through mixers and cross-chain bridges. The market needs not just calls to action, but tough sanctions against exchanges that ignore "know your customer" requirements. Otherwise, the figure of $6.75 billion will grow exponentially.