Research documents now show that North Korea stole billions of dollars in cryptocurrency in 2025, marking another record-breaking year for the country’s cybercrime operations. According to new findings from blockchain research firm Chainalysis, North Korean hackers took about $2.02 billion worth of digital assets this year alone. This is the second year in a row that the country has surpassed its own previous record.
The new figure is a sharp increase from 2024, when North Korea was linked to roughly $1.3 billion in stolen crypto. With the latest thefts added in, researchers estimate that the country has now stolen close to $6.75 billion in cryptocurrency over several years. To put this into perspective, global crypto theft in 2025 reached around $3.4 billion, meaning North Korea is responsible for a large portion of all stolen digital assets worldwide.
A major reason for the surge in 2025 was a massive attack on the Dubai-based crypto exchange Bybit. In February, hackers stole about $1.5 billion, mostly in Ethereum. Bybit’s leadership confirmed the breach, and the U.S. Secret Service later linked the hackers to North Korea’s government-backed cyber unit. This single incident made up most of the country’s total crypto theft for the year.
Chainalysis, which tracks blockchain transactions, explained that stolen crypto is often moved through complex networks to hide its origin. These laundering methods make it hard for authorities to recover funds once they are transferred. Unlike traditional banking, crypto transactions are usually irreversible, giving hackers a big advantage once they gain access to private keys.
International organizations and security experts have long accused North Korea of using crypto theft to fund its nuclear weapons and missile programs. Because the country faces heavy international sanctions, it has limited access to global financial systems. Cybercrime has become a useful alternative source of funding.
Researchers also found that North Korean hackers often gain access by pretending to be remote tech workers at international companies. Once inside, they can steal sensitive information or help other hackers break into systems.
While hackers from other countries have been involved in cybercrime, experts say no other nation runs operations at the same scale or consistency as North Korea. Despite strong security teams at crypto exchanges, the basic structure of digital assets continues to make them attractive targets.
With sanctions failing to stop these activities, experts warn that North Korea’s crypto theft operations are likely to continue in the years ahead. All crypto firms, including entities like Canaan Inc. (NASDAQ: CAN), have become aware of the increasing threat posed by hackers and are constantly seeking to improve their countermeasures against this risk. Individuals holding digital assets also need to be equally vigilant to minimize chances of having their accounts hacked.
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