North Korean hackers have had a record-breaking year in 2025, stealing over $2 billion in cryptocurrency, a 51% increase from 2024. This brings their total stolen funds to $6.75 billion since 2017. The stolen crypto is reportedly used to fund North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, circumventing international sanctions. ¹ ² ³
Some notable hacks include:
- *Bybit Hack*: $1.5 billion stolen in February 2025, one of the largest crypto thefts in history
- *BitoPro Hack*: $11.5 million stolen in May 2025
- *Lazarus Group*: North Korea's state-backed hacking group, responsible for many high-profile hacks
The hackers are shifting tactics, targeting individuals through phishing and social engineering rather than exploiting code flaws. They're also embedding IT workers in crypto services to gain privileged access. ⁴