Hackers Favor Bridges Over Mixers for Lightning-Fast Crypto Laundering

In the first half of 2025, hackers stole over $3 billion in 119 incidents, surpassing total losses for all of 2024 by 50%. They moved funds faster than ever, often laundering assets through cross-chain bridges rather than mixers. Centralized exchanges remain the primary cash-out points, and recovery efforts are limited, leaving most stolen funds either laundered rapidly or waiting for future movement.

In the first half of 2025, hackers stole over $3 billion in 119 incidents, surpassing the total losses for all of 2024 by 50%. This surge in cybercrime highlights the growing sophistication and speed of hacking activities within the cryptocurrency sector. The rapid movement of funds, often facilitated through cross-chain bridges rather than traditional mixers, has made recovery efforts increasingly challenging [1].

One of the most notable incidents involved CoinDCX, an Indian cryptocurrency exchange, where a software engineer was arrested following a $43.4 million exploit. The suspect, 30-year-old Rahul Agarwal, was identified as the individual who accessed CoinDCX’s internal systems and initiated unauthorized transfers on July 19, 2025 [2]. The stolen assets were routed to six wallets in a coordinated breach, and the exchange’s parent company, Neblio Technologies, confirmed that all customer assets remain secure. CoinDCX has absorbed the losses from its own treasury.

The incident at CoinDCX has raised concerns over internal security and potential links to international hacking groups. Authorities are probing possible North Korean involvement, echoing tactics used in prior crypto-related breaches. The stolen funds have not been recovered, and investigations are ongoing [2].

Another significant development in the cybersecurity landscape is the increasing use of zero-click exploits, such as the one Meta is offering a $1 million bounty for. These exploits, which do not require any user interaction, are critically dangerous and pose a significant threat to user security. Meta’s offer is part of a larger effort to incentivize ethical hacking and the discovery of vulnerabilities before they can be exploited maliciously [3].

In parallel, Visa is expanding its crypto settlement infrastructure by integrating three additional stablecoins—PayPal USD (PYUSD), USDG, and EURC—alongside two new blockchain networks, Stellar and Avalanche. This move aligns with Visa’s broader strategy to enhance digital asset integration and improve cross-border payment efficiency [4]. The integration of EURC is particularly relevant for European businesses and cross-border merchants, allowing payments to be settled in both U.S. dollars and euros.

These developments underscore the evolving landscape of cybersecurity and digital asset integration. While the surge in hacking incidents highlights the need for stronger security measures, the expansion of stablecoin support by Visa indicates a growing acceptance and integration of cryptocurrencies into mainstream financial systems.

References:
[1] https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/08/01/coindcx-engineer-arrested-following-july-s-usd43-4m-exploit-report
[2] https://www.forbes.com/sites/daveywinder/2025/08/01/whatsapp-hackers-offered-1-million-for-new-0-click-exploit/
[3] https://www.ainvest.com/news/visa-expands-stablecoin-settlements-3-coins-2-blockchains-2508-76/