Chaynalisys: DPRK hackers stole $ 1.6 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025

North Korean hacker groups stole more than $ 1.6 billion in cryptocurrencies in 2025. This was reported by analysts of the blockchain company Chainalysis in a recent report. Experts note that this is an absolute record in terms of stolen digital assets for hackers from the DPRK — the amount has already exceeded the figures of previous years.

According to the analysis, the main targets of the attacks were centralized exchanges, cryptocurrency services, and DeFi projects. Hackers are actively using phishing campaigns, social engineering, and malware to gain access to wallets and internal systems of companies. The researchers emphasize that organized groups operate under the control of North Korean government agencies and use the proceeds to finance weapons programs.

The report emphasizes that hackers transfer a significant portion of the funds through mixers and illegal platforms to complicate the tracking of crypto assets. In the first half of 2025 alone, attacks were carried out using new hacking schemes that allowed to bypass the updated security mechanisms of major crypto platforms.

Chainalysis experts say that the threat from North Korean hackers remains one of the biggest for the global cryptocurrency market. They recommend that exchanges and digital asset operators regularly update their security and conduct additional staff training to minimize the risks of cyberattacks.

In previous years, the activities of hacker groups from the DPRK also led to high-profile incidents in the crypto sphere, but in 2025, the scale of attacks and the damage caused reached a historic high.