G7 to address North Korea’s role in major crypto hacks
The G7, comprising France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US and Canada, aims to strengthen coordination against cybercrime. It also seeks to limit the regime’s ability to exploit the crypto ecosystem for hostile purposes.
Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) nations are set to tackle North Korea’s ongoing cyber threats, particularly its involvement in large-scale cryptocurrency hacks.
The agenda will reportedly focus on the regime’s use of stolen crypto funds to finance weapons programmes. The issue has raised international concern over global security risks.
The summit, hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney from 15 to 17 June in Alberta, is expected to address geopolitical challenges, including North Korea’s tightening alliance with Russia. Such ties have further complicated attribution of attacks and enforcement of sanctions, experts warn.
Investigations have linked North Korean hackers, notably the Lazarus Group, to major crypto heists. These include the $622 million Axie Infinity breach and February’s $1.4 billion Bybit attack. Analysts believe other cyber units are also active, making digital asset protection a growing priority.
This matters because stolen crypto is not just a technical issue, it funds weapons development, bypasses sanctions, and threatens global stability. For ordinary people, it undermines the security of financial platforms they use and erodes trust in the digital economy. Civil society faces higher risks of fraud, surveillance, and exploitation.
The G7 aims to strengthen coordination against cybercrime, enforce tighter crypto regulations, and curb North Korea’s ability to exploit digital assets. By pushing for global standards and better cybersecurity infrastructure, G7 action can help safeguard the digital ecosystem and protect citizens from the fallout of state-sponsored cyberattacks.
