A record $2 billion for the nuclear program: Hackers from North Korea broke all records for theft

Since the beginning of 2025, state hackers from North Korea (DPRK) have stolen more than $2 billion in cryptocurrency, setting a new record. According to the UN, these funds are being used to finance Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs. The analysts' report shows that hackers are changing their tactics, starting to attack not only exchanges but also private individuals, which is causing additional concern.

Source Minfin

In total, since North Korean hackers began their criminal activities, the total amount of stolen funds has exceeded $6 billion. The lion's share of this year's thefts was accounted for by a major hack of the Bybit crypto exchange. According to Elliptic, the actual amount may be even higher, as the report only includes cases where the connection to North Korea has been established with a high degree of certainty.

In addition, new tactics focusing on social engineering allow criminals to more successfully deceive individuals. This is a serious threat not only to individual users but also to international security, as funds obtained from cybercrime are used to finance weapons and circumvent international sanctions.