G7 calls for stronger fight against North Korean crypto theft

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G7 steps up focus on crypto theft

Highlights

G7 called for joint action on North Korean crypto theft.
DPRK-linked hackers stole at least $2 billion in crypto in 2025.
North Korea-linked crypto thefts total at least $6.75 billion.

Crypto theft moves up the G7 agenda

The G7 statement expressed deep concern over North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and again pointed to cryptocurrency theft as part of the broader security threat. The leaders did not announce specific measures, leaving open whether future action could include tighter exchange screening, expanded sanctions, pressure on mixing services, or closer coordination with blockchain analytics firms, Cointelegraph reports.

The language builds on last year’s G7 position. After the June 2025 summit in Canada, the group’s chair also called for members to address North Korean crypto thefts that help fuel the country’s nuclear and missile programs. The latest statement broadens the warning to cybercrime more generally, suggesting that governments now view the problem as larger than isolated crypto hacks.

The renewed call follows several large incidents with suspected links to North Korean actors, including the roughly $285 million Drift Protocol exploit in April and the $36 million Humanity Protocol breach in June. Those cases have added pressure on exchanges, DeFi protocols, and infrastructure providers to strengthen controls around employee access, wallet screening, and incident response.

Bigger heists, fewer attacks

Chainalysis estimated that North Korean hackers stole at least $2 billion in crypto in 2025, bringing the all-time total attributed to DPRK-affiliated actors to at least $6.75 billion. The attackers generated larger returns despite fewer confirmed incidents, partly by placing information technology workers inside crypto companies or impersonating recruiters and investors to gain access to internal systems.

Other researchers have described the threat in similar terms. CertiK estimated that North Korea-linked hackers accounted for about $2.06 billion of the $3.4 billion lost in crypto hacks in 2025, or roughly 60% of the total value stolen that year. TRM Labs reported that North Korean actors accounted for 76% of crypto hack losses through April 2026, driven by two large attacks totaling $577 million.

Security risk beyond crypto

The G7’s focus reflects a shift in how governments treat crypto theft. What was once viewed mainly as a problem for exchanges and investors is now framed as a national-security issue because researchers and international bodies have linked stolen digital assets to weapons financing.

North Korean groups are accused not only of exploiting code but also of using social engineering, fake identities, and insider access to reach crypto firms.

For the crypto industry, the message is clear: the next phase of compliance will not stop at wallet monitoring. Hiring controls, vendor checks, access management, and rapid information sharing with law enforcement are becoming central to defending the sector against state-linked attackers.

We also reported how North Korea profits from cryptocurrency.

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