North Korea-Linked Hackers Steal Record $2B in 2025, Chainalysis Says
Chainalysis released a report showing North Korea–linked hacking groups moved an estimated $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, continuing a trend toward high-value strikes against centralized platforms. The firm notes attackers have concentrated on fewer, larger operations—a pattern that began in 2024 and was exemplified by the $1.4 billion Bybit breach.
The scale of these thefts heightens risks for exchanges, amplifies concerns about sanctions evasion, and puts renewed focus on AML controls and custody hardening. Chainalysis warns that once stolen assets hit mixers or cross-chain bridges recovery is difficult, so regulators and market participants should expect increased scrutiny, pressure for stronger incident response, and calls for greater transparency from centralized platforms.