Ransomware Attacks Rose 50% in 2025 According to Chainalysis Report
Ransomware incidents increased 50% in 2025, but total payments dropped 8% as attackers targeted smaller entities.Summary
Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis reported a 50% surge in ransomware leak events in 2025, reaching nearly 8,000, driven by attackers shifting focus from large corporations to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Despite the rise in attacks, total on-chain ransom payments decreased by 8% from 2024, amounting to $820 million in 2025. This decrease is attributed to increased regulatory scrutiny, enforcement actions against laundering infrastructure, and large organizations refusing to pay ransoms. Experts suggest this forces attackers to pursue smaller victims who pay faster, though data indicates diminishing returns for attackers. The increase in attack volume is linked to a significant drop in the average 'price for victim access' on the dark web, falling from $1,427 in early 2023 to $439 by early 2026. This price depression is fueled by cheap software, new ransomware strains, and AI-assisted tooling, which lowers the barrier to entry for hackers.
(Source：Cointelegraph)