- Crypto hacks surged to $2.47 billion in the first half of 2025, surpassing 2024 totals.
- Hackers are shifting from code exploits to targeting human behavior.
- Even with fewer incidents, losses remain in the billions, led by Bybit’s $1.4B breach.
The cryptocurrency industry continues to face an unrelenting battle against Hackers, who are exploiting both technological flaws and human psychology. Despite advancements in blockchain cybersecurity, losses from hacks, scams, and exploits climbed to $2.47 billion in the first half of 2025, surpassing the total stolen in 2024.
Billion-Dollar Breaches Continue to Haunt the Industry
According to blockchain security firm CertiK, nearly half of security incidents in 2024 were linked to operational risks, including private key compromises. The largest exploit of 2025 so far occurred in February, when Bybit suffered a $1.4 billion breach—the single biggest crypto hack in history.
While the number of incidents fell in Q2—59 fewer than the previous quarter—the losses remain staggering. More than $800 million was drained across 144 incidents in the second quarter alone, CertiK reported.
Hackers Shift Focus to Human Weaknesses
As blockchain protocols strengthen, cybercriminals are adapting. CertiK co-founder and Columbia University professor Ronghui Gu warned that hackers are increasingly turning to human vulnerabilities, such as phishing and social engineering attacks.
“Let’s say your protocol or blockchain becomes more secure. Then they may target the people behind it—the ones holding private keys,” Gu explained during Cointelegraph’s Chain Reaction show.
Recent cases highlight this shift. On August 6, an investor lost $3 million in USDt after mistakenly approving a malicious blockchain transaction. Just days earlier, another victim lost $900,000 after unknowingly signing a malicious approval more than a year prior.
The Endless Cybersecurity Arms Race
Despite billions in security audits and improved defenses, the industry’s war with hackers shows no signs of slowing. Gu cautioned that 2026 could still see billion-dollar-level hacks, as attackers only need to exploit a single flaw hidden in millions of lines of code.
Also Read: China-Backed Hackers Exploit Critical SharePoint Zero-Day Vulnerability
The crypto sector’s challenge is no longer just patching technical vulnerabilities but also protecting users from increasingly sophisticated manipulation tactics. Until both fronts are secured, the “endless war” between crypto protocols and hackers will continue.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of CoinBrief.io. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Coin Brief is not responsible for any financial losses.
