Similar to the case of big banks vs small banks, access to capital makes a huge difference in hacking:

Today even the smallest countries can buy digital espionage services, enabling them to conduct sophisticated operations like electronic eavesdropping or influence campaigns that were once the preserve of major powers like the United States and Russia. Corporations that want to scrutinize competitors’ secrets, or a wealthy individual with a beef against a rival, can also command intelligence operations for a price, akin to purchasing off-the-shelf elements of the National Security Agency or the Mossad.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/21/us/politics/government-hackers-nso-darkmatter.html