In 2025, North Korean hackers stole a record $2 billion in cryptocurrencies, marking the highest figure on record. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing an analytical report from Chainalysis.
According to the study, this figure saw a sharp increase compared to 2024. Analysts note that North Korea remains the biggest state threat to the security of the global cryptocurrency market.
North Korean Crypto-Thefts 2025: Key Figures
A significant portion of the stolen amount came from the largest digital theft in the history of the crypto market. In February 2025, hackers from North Korea stole about $1.5 billion from the crypto exchange Bybit.
The report emphasizes that globally $3.4 billion worth of cryptocurrency thefts were recorded from January to early December 2025, with over half of that amount linked to North Korean groups.
Financing the North Korean Regime Through Cryptocurrencies
According to Andrew Firman, head of national security at Chainalysis, crypto thefts have become a stable financing mechanism for the North Korean regime and its programs for developing weapons of mass destruction.
To launder money, North Korea employs complex schemes, including breaking down blockchain transactions into smaller payments. This approach reduces the likelihood of automatic detection of the transactions as suspicious.
In comparison, in the first half of 2024, cybercriminals stole $1.58 billion in cryptocurrencies, while in the same period a year earlier, that amount was $857 million.
Earlier, we reported that North Korea announced plans for ongoing updates to its nuclear arsenal.