North Korea accounts for 76% of 2026 crypto hack losses, with theft since 2017 topping $6 billion: TRM Labs

North Korea-linked hackers are responsible for a staggering 76% of cryptocurrency losses in 2026, with two April exploits alone resulting in $577 million in stolen funds. This brings the total amount of cryptocurrency stolen by North Korean hackers since 2017 to over $6 billion. The severity of these losses underscores the significant threat posed by nation-state actors in the crypto space. TRM Labs has attributed the majority of these losses to North Korean hacking groups, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and security measures to prevent such exploits¹. The fact that a single nation-state actor can account for such a large proportion of crypto losses is a stark reminder of the risks associated with cryptocurrency transactions. So what this means for practitioners is that they must remain highly alert to the threat of North Korean hacking groups and take proactive steps to protect their assets.