North Korea Hackers: Record Crypto Theft in 2025

Crypto Theft Surges: Over $2 Billion Stolen in First Half of 2025

Data recently released by Chainalysis, a leading crypto analysis firm, indicates that hackers have illicitly obtained over $2 billion in cryptocurrency during the initial six months of 2025.

This figure represents the highest amount stolen through crypto theft in any comparable period to date. The $2.17 billion compromised during this timeframe already exceeds the total crypto losses reported for the entirety of the previous year.

Increased Theft Compared to Previous Years

Specifically, the amount of cryptocurrency stolen in the first half of 2025 demonstrates a roughly 17% increase when contrasted with the same period in 2022.

2022 had previously held the record for the largest amount of stolen crypto.

Bybit Hack and North Korean Involvement

A significant portion of the stolen funds can be traced back to a single security breach at the crypto exchange Bybit.

North Korean hackers are believed to have stolen over $1.4 billion in cryptocurrency from Bybit, with the FBI reporting that a substantial amount of these funds was subsequently laundered.

These laundered funds were then directed towards the North Korean regime.

North Korea's Growing Reliance on Crypto Theft

Chainalysis highlights that the Bybit hack is indicative of a wider trend in North Korean cyber activity.

These hacks are increasingly vital to the nation’s efforts to circumvent international sanctions.

Due to its limited access to the global financial system, North Korea has become adept at targeting Western organizations to acquire cryptocurrency.

Funding Sanctioned Programs

The primary objective of these thefts is to finance North Korea’s sanctioned nuclear weapons program.

Beyond direct hacking, North Korea also utilizes a network of thousands of remote IT workers.

These workers infiltrate technology companies to generate revenue, steal intellectual property, and engage in extortion schemes.

Dominance of North Korean Hackers

A prior report from Chainalysis revealed that North Korean hackers were responsible for nearly two-thirds of all crypto hacks that occurred throughout 2024.

This demonstrates the significant role these actors play in the landscape of cryptocurrency theft.