Kim's hackers number in the billions. This year, Koreans have stolen over $2 billion

Hacker groups linked to North Korea stole over $2 billion in cryptocurrencies between January and December 2025, the South Korean daily “Korea Herald” reported on Monday. This represents an increase of 51%. compared to the previous year – according to analyzes by Chainalysis.

In total, North Korean hackers are responsible for almost 60 percent. global cryptocurrency thefts. Globally, a total of $3.4 billion was stolen from these sources in 2025.

While the overall number of hacking incidents related to North Korea dropped by 74%. compared to 2024, the stolen amounts were much higher, and the attackers target centralized exchanges.

The Chainalysis report shows that the key factor thanks to which North Korea is able to commit the largest thefts is the infiltration of fintech companies from the inside. Hackers are taking advantage of IT employees in companies offering cryptocurrency services, analysts said, warning that the methods used are becoming more and more insidious.

The attackers impersonate recruiters from well-known companies from the Web3 (new generation of the Internet, based on the principles of decentralization) and AI industries. By conducting false recruitment processes, they are able to deceive victims and force them to provide login details, internal code or remote access to employers' systems. In other cases, they present themselves as potential investors, which makes it easier for them to collect information about internal networks and possible entry points, the daily emphasized. (PAP)

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