The latest G7 central bank governors and finance ministers’ summit has sparked conversation about the growing need for regulatory measures concerning crypto, with Japanese government leaders suggesting that not enough is being done to prevent North Korea from hacking cryptocurrencies. According to a high-ranking official from the Japanese Ministry of Finance, North Korea continues its missile and other activities despite sanctions, engaging in unjustifiable actions involving crypto assets, including token theft.
Japan’s stance indicates that other nations should follow its lead, as well as Washington’s, to help block North Korea’s raids. A report from the blockchain analysis firm Elliptic alleges that most of the crypto stolen by Pyongyang has been taken from Japanese targets, with an estimated $721 million worth of crypto stolen from Japan since 2017. Comparatively, North Korea’s exports in 2021 were only 8.8 times smaller. The same hacker groups have also been linked to raids on Vietnamese crypto sites and wallets worth $540 million and thefts of $497 million from the United States, with Hong Kong wallets and platforms allegedly raided for $281 million since 2017.
So, what is driving Japan’s push to regulate crypto and crack down on North Korea? Japan seeks to use its G7 and G20 presidencies to prioritize discussions on crypto regulation and sanctions. As host nations have the right to add items to the G7 agenda, Japan previously responded to its G20 presidency by providing attendees with crypto manuals outlining its strict crypto regulatory regime. This decision was primarily guided by a series of hacks on major crypto platforms.
Japan hopes that the collapse of the FTX platform last year will push fellow G7 members into action. It seems these efforts have yielded some success, with the finance ministers and central bank governors recently issuing a joint statement on crypto. They commit to implementing effective regulatory and supervisory frameworks for cryptocurrencies, although a G7-wide agreement on the streamlining of sanctions and regulation has yet to be reached. Finance chiefs have, however, confirmed the need for regulations to prevent customer damage and money laundering.
Blockchain analysis firms claim that Pyongyang uses various coin mixers to launder the stolen crypto. This highlights the need for a robust regulatory framework and increased vigilance among member nations to address the growing concerns surrounding crypto theft and misuse. As the world moves toward greater adoption of cryptocurrencies, it remains crucial for the international community to come together and devise coordinated strategies to counter malicious actors and protect the interests of users.
Source: Cryptonews
