North Korea Sees Crypto Theft as Crucial to National Survival

North Korea has long used state-backed hackers to steal crypto assets and evade international sanctions. The United Nations and cybersecurity researchers say the proceeds have funded nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, turning attacks on exchanges from financial crimes into global security and non-proliferation concerns.

G7 leaders adopted a statement at their June 15–17, 2026 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, reaffirming the need for joint action against North Korean crypto theft and cybercrime. Chainalysis estimates that North Korean hackers stole $2.02 billion in 2025, up 51% from a year earlier, bringing their cumulative haul to at least $6.75 billion.

North Korea has long used state-backed hacking groups to target cryptocurrency exchanges and related services. Blockchain security firm CertiK said the country has “industrialized” such theft, turning it into a core channel for evading international sanctions and obtaining foreign currency. The proceeds have also been used to fund its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

CertiK’s latest report showed that North Korea-linked hacking groups stole about $2.06 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, accounting for roughly 60% of global losses from crypto hacks that year. The report said North Korea has built systematic operations spanning attacks, asset transfers and money laundering, indicating that the activity has evolved from isolated crimes into a state-level revenue model.

North Korea-linked hacking groups have long targeted cryptocurrency platforms, with organizations such as Lazarus particularly adept at attacking DeFi protocols. Because stolen assets can be moved rapidly across borders, such attacks not only threaten investors and protocol security but also renew concerns about North Korea obtaining funds through digital assets.

A TRM Labs report found that North Korea-linked hackers accounted for 76% of total cryptocurrency thefts in 2026. In April, hackers stole about $577 million from DeFi protocols including Drift Protocol and Kelp DAO over 18 days. Global crypto hack losses exceeded $630 million that month, the highest since February 2025.

North Korea has long used overseas IT workers posing as job applicants to infiltrate crypto projects and gain salaries, system access and digital assets. The network uncovered by blockchain investigator ZachXBT involved about 140 people, indicating that the operation had developed into a sizable, sustainable source of foreign currency that could help North Korea evade international sanctions.

As of July 19, 2026, data released by ZachXBT showed that the team earned about $1 million a month from IT jobs and crypto scams. Members used simple passwords such as “123456” to manage payment and ranking platforms. Stolen crypto was converted into fiat currency and then transferred to Chinese bank accounts.