The G7 declares war on North Korean hackers: $2 billion stolen in 2025
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations adopted a strong statement at the Evian summit, aimed at strengthening joint efforts to combat cryptocurrency thefts and cyberattacks organized by North Korea. The document emphasizes that these actions pose a direct threat to global financial stability and require a coordinated response from the world's leading economies.
Scale of the Threat: A Record $2.02 Billion in One Year
According to my data, based on blockchain transaction analysis, hacker groups linked to North Korea stole $2.02 billion worth of crypto assets in 2025. This is 51% higher than the previous year's figures and demonstrates an alarming growth trend. Analysts estimate the total volume of stolen funds since the start of active attacks to be at least $6.75 billion. These numbers show that Pyongyang has turned cryptocurrency theft into one of the key sources of funding for its nuclear and missile programs, which is directly noted in the G7 final document.
G7 Reaction: Statements Without Concrete Measures
Despite the tough rhetoric, the Evian summit did not propose specific mechanisms or separate sanctions measures for the crypto industry. The G7 countries limited themselves to general calls for enhanced control and intelligence sharing. This raises serious doubts for me about the effectiveness of such declarations. Without the implementation of mandatory KYC/AML standards for decentralized platforms and the creation of an international system for real-time tracking of suspicious transactions, North Korean hackers will continue to operate with near impunity.
The crypto community must realize: North Korean attacks are not just isolated incidents, but a systemic threat to the entire ecosystem. The lack of clear regulatory solutions from the G7 could make 2026 even more costly for investors and exchanges.