CertiK Warns of Endless War as Crypto Hackers Steal $2.5B in 2025

The crypto industry in 2025 faces its harshest year yet against cybercriminals. 

Blockchain security firm CertiK evealed that hackers have already stolen over $2.47 billion in the first half of the year, surpassing the entire losses of 2024.

According to CertiK co-founder Ronghui Gu, this ongoing cybersecurity battle is an “endless war” where defenders must secure every potential weakness while attackers only need to find one. Despite improvements in blockchain defenses, the biggest vulnerability remains human error.

Crypto Hacks in 2025 Reach Record Highs

By mid-2025, a total of 344 incidents had been recorded, resulting in nearly $2.5 billion in losses. The largest single attack occurred in February, when Bybit suffered a $1.4 billion breach, marking the biggest cryptocurrency heist in history.

Compared to 2024, the pace of attacks has accelerated, making 2025 a defining year for crypto cybersecurity challenges.

Wallet Compromises Dominate Losses

Wallet-related hacks were the most damaging category, causing over $1.7 billion in stolen assets across just 34 incidents. These attacks often exploit private key leaks, weak security practices, or malicious approvals of smart contracts.

The scale of wallet compromises shows that even advanced security systems cannot fully protect users who fail to safeguard their private access.

Phishing and Social Engineering Threats Grow

Phishing attacks have accounted for over $410 million in damages across 132 incidents. Instead of exploiting code, hackers target human behavior, tricking users into revealing private keys or signing fraudulent transactions.

This trend highlights the shift from purely technical exploits to psychological manipulation, where careless clicks and approvals can lead to devastating losses.

Read more: BetterBank Contract on Pulse Chain Stolen, Total Losses of 215 ETH

Cybersecurity Battle Remains Asymmetric

CertiK notes that only $187 million of stolen funds have been recovered so far. This highlights the asymmetric nature of the fight: defenders must secure millions of lines of code and user endpoints, while attackers need just one vulnerability.

Although Q2 2025 saw a 29% decline in both the number of incidents and total value stolen, experts warn that the overall risk level remains extremely high.

Final Thoughts

The $2.5 billion stolen in 2025 reinforces CertiK’s warning that the crypto industry is locked in an endless war with hackers. While better encryption, real-time monitoring, and ecosystem upgrades are crucial, human behavior remains the weakest link.

Greater user education, secure wallet management, and stricter security protocols will be vital if the industry is to prevent billion-dollar losses from continuing into 2026.

Secure Bitcoin trades. Smart crypto insights. Only at Bitrue.

FAQs

How much has been stolen in crypto hacks in 2025 so far?

Hackers have stolen over $2.47 billion in the first half of 2025, already surpassing 2024’s total.

What was the biggest crypto hack of 2025?

The largest hack was a $1.4 billion breach of Bybit in February, marking the biggest crypto heist ever recorded.

Why are wallet hacks so damaging?

Wallet compromises often expose private keys or misuse contract approvals, leading to over $1.7 billion in stolen assets across just 34 cases.

Are phishing attacks still a major threat?

Yes, phishing caused over $410 million in losses in 2025, proving that social engineering and user mistakes remain highly effective attack vectors.

Can crypto security keep up with hackers?

Experts say the battle is asymmetric. While defenders must secure everything, attackers only need one exploit. Without better education and security practices, billion-dollar losses are likely to continue.