Crypto Chaos: North Korea’s Record-Breaking $2 Billion Heist in 2025

Hot Take:

Wow, looks like Kim Jong-un’s got a new favorite video game: Grand Theft Crypto! Who needs nuclear weapons when you can just steal digital gold with a few clicks? North Korea is making it rain crypto, one heist at a time. Someone get this man a Netflix deal; he’s more prolific than Money Heist!

Key Points:

• North Korea’s crypto thefts surged to over $2 billion in 2025, a 51% increase from the previous year.
• The Bybit hack alone contributed $1.5 billion to the total, spotlighting the scale of these operations.
• Kim’s cyber criminals are targeting personal wallets more than ever, accounting for 44% of the total thefts.
• The rogue state was responsible for 76% of all service compromises, a record-breaking feat.
• With a new focus, North Korea’s IT army is posing as recruiters to infiltrate and exploit web3 companies.

Crypto Heists: The New National Sport

North Korea has gone from building rockets to launching cyberattacks faster than you can say “blockchain.” In 2025, they made off with over $2 billion in digital assets, marking a 51% increase from last year’s haul. Evidently, they’ve swapped their missile systems for mining rigs, and instead of sanctions, they’re dealing in stolen Solanas and Ethereums.

Bybit: The Billion-Dollar Jackpot

February was North Korea’s lucky month when their cybercriminals hit the jackpot with a $1.5 billion coup against Bybit. This single attack accounted for a massive chunk of their yearly operations, making it the cryptocurrency equivalent of Ocean’s Eleven. If there’s a lesson here, it’s that the DPRK’s hackers are not just playing around; they’re playing for keeps. The only thing missing is George Clooney and a leather jacket.

Wallets: The New Frontier

In a strategic pivot, North Korea has turned its gaze from DeFi protocols to personal wallets. Like a digital Robin Hood but without the altruism, they’ve targeted 158,000 wallets, affecting 80,000 individuals. This shift represents 44% of their efforts, up significantly from 7.3% in 2022. Isn’t it heartwarming to see a nation adapt and grow?

DeFi: The Decline of a Favorite Target

It seems attacking DeFi protocols is so 2023. While these digital vaults still hold massive amounts of cryptocurrency, North Korea has moved on to greener pastures. Perhaps DeFi security measures are finally catching up, or maybe Kim’s hackers just prefer the thrill of hacking personal wallets. Either way, DeFi attacks have decreased, even as total value locked in these protocols has grown.

Fake Workers: North Korea’s Trojan Horse

North Korea’s IT army has shifted gears, trading in their resumes for recruiting hats. Their new M.O. involves posing as recruiters for crypto companies, using fake technical screenings to gain access to sensitive data. It’s like phishing but with a LinkedIn profile. Executive-level shenanigans include faux strategic investors probing for access paths into high-value infrastructure. It’s social engineering with a sprinkle of espionage, proving that North Korea’s cyber tactics are as versatile as they are nefarious.

Looking Ahead: The 2026 Challenge

Chainalysis warns that the DPRK’s spectacular 2025 performance might just be the tip of the iceberg. With 74% fewer known attacks, North Korea is clearly mastering the art of stealth. As we look to 2026, the challenge will be in detecting and preventing these high-impact operations before another Bybit-scale incident occurs. Perhaps we should all invest in tinfoil hats and stronger passwords.

So, as North Korea continues to redefine international cybercrime, the rest of the world watches with bated breath—and locked wallets. One thing’s for sure: no one’s calling them the Hermit Kingdom anymore. In the realm of digital crime, Kim Jong-un is king.