$2.47 Billion Lost to 2025 Crypto Hacks as Hacks Shift to Human Targets

Blockchain security firm CertiK has revealed that over $2.47 billion in cryptocurrency was lost to hacks in 2025, a significant increase compared to the previous year [1]. The report highlights a major breach at Bybit in February, which alone accounted for nearly $1.5 billion in losses. Ethereum emerged as the most affected asset, with attackers exploiting weaknesses in wallets, phishing strategies, and platform vulnerabilities [2].

Despite a decline in the number of attacks in the second quarter, the financial impact remained severe, with over $800 million in losses attributed to incidents such as compromised wallets and social engineering attacks [3]. CertiK’s mid-year “Hack3d” report described the situation as an "endless war" with hackers, emphasizing the ongoing and evolving nature of cyber threats in the crypto ecosystem [4]. The firm’s co-founder, Ronghui Gu, has publicly reiterated the urgent need for stronger security infrastructure and better user education to counter these threats.

The report indicates a strategic shift in hacking tactics, with attackers increasingly targeting human behavior rather than technical flaws in blockchain infrastructure. This underscores a growing reliance on phishing and wallet compromises, which have proven highly effective in bypassing even advanced security measures [5]. To date, only $187 million of the stolen funds has been recovered, leaving the vast majority of losses unrecovered and posing significant financial and reputational risks to the industry [6].

Industry leaders and regulators are now calling for a more coordinated response. CertiK advocates for enhanced encryption protocols, multi-signature wallets, and real-time monitoring systems to prevent future breaches. Global regulators are also pushing for cross-platform collaboration to address the rising threat from increasingly sophisticated cybercriminals [7]. Meanwhile, some analysts warn that unless systemic improvements are made, the industry could face even larger losses in the coming year, with CertiK forecasting potential billion-dollar breaches in 2026 [8].

The report serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that persist in the crypto space, despite growing awareness and investment in security. While the industry continues to innovate and expand, the data suggests that even a small number of high-impact attacks can cause extensive damage. CertiK’s findings reinforce the need for proactive security strategies and a stronger regulatory framework to protect digital assets from evolving cyber threats [9].

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Source:

[1] Cointelegraph, [https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-hacks-2025-cybersecurity-war-human-behavior](https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-hacks-2025-cybersecurity-war-human-behavior)

[2] Cryptopolitan, [https://www.cryptopolitan.com/certik-sees-endless-war-with-crypto-hackers/](https://www.cryptopolitan.com/certik-sees-endless-war-with-crypto-hackers/)

[3] Reddit · r/CryptoCurrency, [https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoCurrency/comments/1n0ldaa/certik_predicts_endless_war_with_crypto_hackers/](https://www.reddit.com/r/CryptoCurrency/comments/1n0ldaa/certik_predicts_endless-war-with-crypto-hackers/)

[4] AInvest, [https://www.ainvest.com/news/allegations-crypto-concealed-major-security-incident-2508/](https://www.ainvest.com/news/allegations-crypto-concealed-major-security-incident-2508/)

[5] Outlook Money, [https://www.outlookmoney.com/cryptocurrency/kraken-discusses-tokenisation-with-sec-crypto-task-force](https://www.outlookmoney.com/cryptocurrency/kraken-discusses-tokenisation-with-sec-crypto-task-force)

[6] StartupNews.fyi, [https://startupnews.fyi/bug-bounty-cuts-are-setting-crypto-up-for-billion-dollar-hacks/](https://startupnews.fyi/bug-bounty-cuts-are-setting-crypto-up-for-billion-dollar-hacks/)

[7] Cointelegraph, [https://cointelegraph.com/tags/cybersecurity](https://cointelegraph.com/tags/cybersecurity)

[8] CryptoRank, [https://cryptorank.io/news/tag/coinbase](https://cryptorank.io/news/tag/coinbase)

[9] CoinGlass, [https://www.coinglass.com/newsflash](https://www.coinglass.com/newsflash)