CertiK Warns of ’Endless War’ Against Crypto Hackers After $2.5B Loss in First Half of 2025

Blockchain security firm CertiK has sounded the alarm on an escalating battle against cybercriminals, revealing nearly $2.5 billion in digital asset thefts during the first six months of 2025. Ronghui Gu, Columbia University professor and CertiK co-founder, describes the conflict as fundamentally asymmetric—attackers need only exploit a single vulnerability, while defenders must secure sprawling decentralized systems line by line.

The latest Hack3d report details 344 incidents, with wallet compromises accounting for the lion's share at $1.7 billion across 34 attacks. Phishing schemes followed closely, siphoning $410 million through 132 incidents. Despite advancing cybersecurity measures, Gu anticipates billion-dollar losses will persist through 2026 as attackers refine their tactics.