2025 Marks Worst Year on Record for Crypto Theft as Losses Exceed $4 Billion
Crypto theft losses hit a record $4.04 billion in 2025, driven by fewer but larger exploits and increased social engineering scams.Summary
According to PeckShield’s annual security report, crypto-related theft reached an unprecedented $4.04 billion in 2025, marking a 34.2% increase from 2024. This record loss occurred despite a decrease in the total number of security incidents, suggesting a shift toward higher-impact attacks. Exploits remained the primary vector, causing $2.67 billion in losses (a 24.2% rise), while scams accounted for $1.37 billion, surging by 64.2%. Social engineering, including phishing, contributed 12% of total losses. Recovery efforts significantly declined, with only $334.9 million recovered compared to $488.5 million in 2024. The largest single theft involved North Korea’s Lazarus Group stealing over $1.4 billion from Bybit. These negative trends are already continuing into 2026.
(Source：BeInCrypto)