Crypto Crime Surge in 2025: Hacks, Violence, and Sophisticated Scams Reshape Threat Landscape

Cryptocurrency crime is escalating dramatically in 2025, with mid-year losses already reaching $2.17 billion—putting it on track to surpass 2022’s record $3.8 billion in thefts. Attacks have grown fewer but far larger, with Q1 2025 alone seeing $1.64 billion stolen, marking the worst quarter in history.

North Korean-linked hackers, fake Zoom scams, and even physical violence now complement traditional exchange hacks. Social engineering has emerged as a preferred tactic, exploiting human trust to compromise devices directly. The line between cybercrime and organized violence is blurring as capital flows back into digital assets.

Chainalysis, CertiK, and Immunefi data confirm the trend: while 2023 saw a 54% drop in losses, 2024’s 21% rebound was merely a prelude to this year’s unprecedented surge. Exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and Bybit remain prime targets, but attackers increasingly bypass platforms entirely—targeting holders of BTC, ETH, and SOL through psychological manipulation rather than technical exploits.