Hackers and Scammers Stole $4 Billion in Cryptocurrencies in 2025

RBK-cryptoPublished on 2026-01-13Last updated on 2026-01-13

Abstract

In 2025, hackers and fraudsters stole over $4 billion in cryptocurrencies, a 34.2% increase compared to the $3.01 billion stolen in 2024, according to analytics firm PeckShieldAlert. The total damage exceeded $4.04 billion, with $2.67 billion (a 24.2% annual increase) attributed to hacks and $1.37 billion (a 64.2% increase) to fraud cases. A strategic shift was noted towards a rise in scams utilizing social engineering methods, such as psychological manipulation to trick victims into revealing confidential information, which accounted for 12% of the losses. The most significant single incident was the $1.4 billion hack of the Bybit exchange in February of the previous year. An additional 22% of losses came from scams, including 'rug pulls' and pseudo-crypto investment schemes. Another key change was the increasing share of centralized services among the affected platforms. Their share of losses grew from just over 35% in 2023 to around 45% in 2024, and exceeded 70% in 2025. Only about $334.9 million of the stolen funds were frozen or returned during the year, a decrease from the $488.5 million recovered in 2024.

Damage to crypto industry participants increased by 34% compared to 2024

Due to hacks and fraud with cryptocurrencies in 2025, more than $4 billion was lost, according to analysts at PeckShieldAlert. According to their data, this is 34.2% more than in 2024, when $3.01 billion worth of cryptocurrency was stolen.

Damage from hacks and fraud with cryptocurrencies in 2025. Source: PeckShield

The total damage in 2025 exceeded $4.04 billion. Of this, $2.67 billion came from losses due to hacks (a 24.2% year-on-year increase) and $1.37 billion was attributed to cases of fraud (a 64.2% increase).

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The report emphasizes that a strategic shift is occurring — the number of thefts using social engineering methods (psychological techniques and manipulations that force the victim to disclose confidential information that the attacker could use to steal funds) is growing. Analysts attributed 12% of the losses in 2025 to incidents where such methods were used.

66% of the total damage came from hacks, the most serious being the theft of $1.4 billion from the Bybit exchange in February of last year. Another 22% of losses came from scams, including "rug pulls" (when developers withdraw liquidity at the price peak) and pseudo-cryptoinvestments.

Another important change was the increase in the share of centralized services among the affected platforms. If in 2023 they accounted for just over 35%, in 2024 it was already around 45%, and in 2025 — over 70%.

Over the year, only about $334.9 million of the stolen funds was frozen or returned. PeckShield noted a decrease compared to 2024, when $488.5 million was recovered.

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