Catenaa, Friday, May 09, 2025-G7 leaders may confront North Korea’s cybertheft spree at next month’s summit in Canada, sources told Bloomberg, as mounting crypto heists linked to the regime spark fresh global security concerns.
The discussions would mark a rare focus on digital assets at the G7 level. North Korea-backed hackers are believed to have stolen over $1.3 billion in crypto last year, funding the country’s weapons programs. February’s $1.4 billion breach of Bybit, the largest-ever centralized exchange hack, was attributed to the Lazarus Group, a notorious cybercrime ring tied to Pyongyang.
While the G7 agenda remains fluid, the potential crypto-focused debate adds urgency to broader discussions on sanctions, financial transparency and cyber deterrence. Analysts say North Korea’s expanding crypto tactics -from fake job offers to malicious DeFi exploits -reflect a maturing cybercrime industry shielded by state actors.
Recent developments have intensified scrutiny. In April, the US Treasury moved to ban Cambodia’s Huione Group for allegedly laundering North Korea-linked funds. That same month, cybersecurity firm Silent Push reported Lazarus-linked entities creating shell companies in the US to distribute malware.
Among the regime’s most infamous hacks are the $600 million Ronin Bridge exploit, the Harmony Horizon breach, and attacks on Japan’s DMM Bitcoin exchange. Many stolen assets disappear quickly into mixing services and peer-to-peer networks, frustrating enforcement.
Despite international sanctions and monitoring by the US, Japan, and South Korea, Pyongyang’s crypto operations remain highly effective -and increasingly elusive.
G7 leaders are expected to weigh new responses as concerns grow over crypto’s role in global security breaches.
