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Record Theft from the Cryptocurrency World: $2.1 Billion Stolen in Six Months!
In the first half of 2025, a massive amount of $2.1 billion was stolen from the cryptocurrency sector, with more than 80% of this amount resulting from infrastructure attacks.
The cryptocurrency sector began the year 2025 with one of the largest security crises in history. According to the latest report from blockchain data analysis firm TRM Labs, a total of $2.1 billion worth of crypto assets were stolen during cyber attacks that took place from January to June. The majority of the stolen amount came from direct attacks on infrastructure by hackers. Attacks such as private key thefts, seed phrase vulnerabilities, and hijacking of user interfaces caused approximately 10 times more damage compared to other methods.
According to the report, vulnerabilities in DeFi protocols continued to shake the sector. In particular, flash loan attacks and re-entrancy vulnerabilities in smart contracts accounted for 12% of the total loss. This situation indicates that security vulnerabilities in blockchain-based protocols persist.
In the total amount stolen in the first half, the Bybit hack attack that occurred in February and is said to be linked to North Korea has a significant share. This attack alone, worth $1.5 billion, raised the average attack size for the year to $30 million, doubling last year's average.
TRM Labs states that hacker groups linked to North Korea obtained 70% of the amount stolen in the first half of the year ($1.6 billion). It is emphasized that the North Korean regime is particularly focused on such attacks to finance its weapons programs. Additionally, the report includes an attack by the Israel-friendly Gonjeshke Darande group on the Iran-based Nobitex exchange, which rendered $90 million unusable amid increasing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
To prevent security vulnerabilities in the cryptocurrency sector, TRM Labs called for protocols and platforms to develop multi-factor authentication methods and increase the use of cold wallets. It was also noted that measures against insider threats need to be tightened. The report emphasized the importance of international cooperation and information sharing against criminals.