The G7 has declared war on North Korean hackers: the scale of cryptocurrency thefts is breaking records.
At a recent summit in Évian, G7 leaders adopted a joint statement focusing on combating cryptocurrency crimes originating from North Korea. The document emphasizes the need for coordinated action against hacker groups linked to Pyongyang, which in recent years have turned the theft of digital assets into a key source of funding for nuclear and missile programs.
However, despite the strong statements, no specific mechanisms or sanctions directly targeting the crypto sector were proposed. This raises questions: how effective will these calls be without strict regulatory measures?
The scale of the threat is impressive. According to the analytical platform Chainalysis, North Korean hackers stole $2.02 billion worth of cryptocurrency in 2025 alone. This is 51% more than the previous year. The total volume of stolen assets since tracking began has exceeded $6.75 billion. These figures indicate the systemic nature of the attacks: groups like Lazarus actively use phishing, DeFi protocol exploits, and complex money laundering schemes through mixers.
In my opinion, without the implementation of unified KYC/AML standards at a global level and enhanced control over cross-chain transfers, the G7 risks remaining merely an observer. North Korean hackers have already proven they can adapt to any restrictions faster than regulators can pass new laws.