Crypto Hacks Surge in 2025 as $2.47 Billion Stolen in First Half

The crypto industry is confronting an alarming escalation in cyberattacks, with $2.47 billion in digital assets stolen through hacking incidents in the first half of 2025, according to CertiK, a prominent blockchain security firm [1]. The most substantial breach occurred in February, when Bybit suffered a $1.5 billion loss in a single incident, marking the largest theft of the year [2]. Ethereum has emerged as the most frequently targeted cryptocurrency, with attackers exploiting vulnerabilities in wallet systems, phishing tactics, and platform infrastructure [3].

While the number of attacks declined in the second quarter, the financial impact remained severe. Over $800 million was lost due to wallet compromises and social engineering attacks [4]. CertiK’s mid-year "Hack3d" report described the battle against hackers as an "endless war," emphasizing the evolving nature of threats in the crypto space [5]. Attackers are increasingly focusing on human behavior rather than technical flaws in blockchain systems, making phishing and wallet exploitation particularly effective [6].

As of mid-2025, only $187 million of the stolen funds has been recovered, leaving the majority of losses unrecovered and prompting calls for stronger industry-wide security measures [7]. CertiK has urged for systemic improvements, including enhanced encryption protocols, multi-signature wallet adoption, and real-time monitoring systems. Regulatory bodies are also advocating for cross-platform collaboration to address the sophistication of modern cybercriminals [8].

The report highlights the fragility of current security frameworks in the crypto industry, even as it continues to grow. CertiK warns that without proactive measures and a more robust regulatory environment, the sector could face even more devastating breaches in 2026, with potential losses projected to reach into the billions [9].

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)