North Korea’s crypto hacking machine just set another record.
The country stole $2.02 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, according to new research from blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis, surpassing its previous high of $1.3 billion. That brings North Korea’s total haul to roughly $6.75 billion, while global crypto theft climbed to $3.4 billion this year.
A major share of the losses came from a $1.5 billion hack of Dubai-based exchange Bybit in February, mostly in ether. Bybit’s CEO confirmed the breach, and the U.S. Secret Service has linked the attack to North Korea’s elite government-backed hacking group.
1/ In the first preview chapter of our 2026 Crypto Crime Report, we look at how North Korean hackers stole $2.02B in crypto during 2025, a 51% increase from 2024, pushing their all-time total to $6.75B: https://t.co/B9l4x1g9VM
— Chainalysis (@chainalysis) December 18, 2025
Chainalysis, which tracks crypto flows and laundering patterns, said North Korea continues to stand apart from other state-linked cybercrime efforts. The U.N. and private researchers have long accused Pyongyang of using crypto theft to fund its nuclear and missile programs, helping the regime sidestep heavy international sanctions.
One growing tactic involves North Korean hackers posing as remote tech workers at global companies. Once inside, they can quietly open doors for larger thefts, including stealing wallet credentials and moving funds back to the regime, the report said.
Other countries have been tied to large-scale cyber thefts, including Chinese and Russian actors, but none operate at North Korea’s scale or consistency. Leaked documents have previously shown Pyongyang runs some of the most advanced money-laundering networks in the world.
Crypto remains an attractive target. Exchanges hold large sums, transactions are hard to reverse, and once wallet keys are compromised, funds can be moved almost instantly.
“Despite professional security teams, these platforms remain vulnerable because of this fundamental challenge,” Chainalysis said.
With North Korea already facing near-total sanctions, experts say there’s little left to deter the regime from continuing to use crypto theft as a funding source for its military ambitions.North Korea Breaks Its Own Crypto Theft Record With $2 Billion Stolen
