The G7 declares war on North Korean crypto hackers: $2 billion stolen in a year
The Group of Seven (G7) countries have officially declared the need to consolidate efforts to combat the wave of cryptocurrency thefts and cyberattacks originating from North Korea. In the final declaration of the summit in Évian, G7 leaders emphasized that Pyongyang uses stolen digital assets to finance its nuclear and missile programs, posing a direct threat to global security. However, despite the strong statements, no specific mechanisms for regulating the crypto sector or targeted sanctions were proposed.
Scale of the Threat: Record Numbers
Analytics confirm that the G7's concerns are well-founded. According to data from blockchain researchers Chainalysis, hacker groups linked to North Korea stole $2.02 billion worth of cryptocurrency in 2025. This is 51% higher than the previous year's figures. The total volume of assets stolen by North Korean criminals throughout the entire observation period is estimated at least $6.75 billion.
Why Does the G7 Lack Resolve?
The main problem lies in the decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies and jurisdictional barriers. North Korean hackers, known as the Lazarus Group and APT38, actively use mixers, cross-chain bridges, and decentralized exchanges to launder funds. Without a unified global monitoring system and mandatory KYC for DeFi protocols, G7 declarations risk remaining mere political statements. The market needs not calls, but technical solutions—for example, introducing "blacklists" of addresses at the protocol level.
Cryptalist Expert Opinion: The 51% increase in thefts over the year is not just statistics but an indicator that current protection methods, including traditional exchange blacklists, are outdated. While the G7 discusses rhetoric, North Korean hackers are testing new attack vectors. Investors should reconsider risk management: using hardware wallets and verifying addresses through analytical services are becoming not a recommendation, but a necessity.