The crypto space is a valuable market. With 10,000+ cryptocurrencies spread across 1,000+ blockchains and at least 560 million users, the industry is valued at nearly $3 trillion. This has made it one of the most exciting markets for investors, financial institutions, and even governments.
But for the same reasons, it has also attracted its fair share of criminals, with hacks and scams a relatively regular occurrence. So, security is one of the industry’s biggest concerns. Here’s what the statistics say.
Over 20% of Bitcoin Is Considered Lost
Bitcoin (BTC) is not only extremely popular but also the most valuable crypto asset. Over the years, a surprisingly large number of Bitcoin has been lost, though. The exact number and value are not known, but the blockchain analysis platform IntoTheBlock estimates that 29% of BTC hasn’t moved in 5+ years.
While some of this BTC is certainly in the hands of investors who are Holding On for Dear Life (HODLing), experts believe that a large portion of it is lost. These are coins in wallets that owners can no longer access for various reasons, and many are believed to be lost forever. But that doesn’t mean it is impossible to recover BTC stuck in a wallet.
Depending on your specific situation, a crypto recovery expert can help you get back the BTC stuck in your wallet.
The Value of Crypto Stolen Grows in H1 2024
Reporting on security stats, Beosin says total losses from hacks and scams in crypto in 2025 stand at $3.375 billion. That’s a more than 77% increase from the funds stolen in 2024, although it should be noted that rising crypto values likely inflate the more recent figures.
Crypto crime is a hard thing to track. In this year’s crypto crime report from Chainalysis, the company admits that, over time, the figures continue to grow as more information is uncovered. For example, they recorded $24 billion in stolen funds in 2023, but as 2024 got underway, more data showed the figure closer to $46 billion.
A newer Chainalysis report covering incidents from North Korean hackers reveals that these groups got away with over $2 billion in 2025, most of which came from the ByBit hack. On top of that, individual wallet compromises moved up to 80,000 victims. However, the total value taken decreased from 2024.
Centralized Platforms Suffer the Highest Losses in 2025
Centralized exchanges (CEXs) suffered the highest losses among crypto platforms in 2025. There have been nine CEX-related attacks. These resulted in a total loss of approximately $1.7 billion, accounting for over half of this year’s losses.
While rug pulls have decreased, DeFi still has work to do. There were over 90 attacks this year, with names like Balancer and Trust Wallet among the most well-known targets.
Ethereum Lost the Most to Hacks
Ethereum was the chain to steal from, which makes sense, since it has the most TVL. There were 170 issues in 2025, accounting for two-thirds of the stolen funds.
The second-place trophy? That belongs to the BNB chain, which experienced 64 different thefts totalling over $89 million. The recent Trust Wallet incident, which occurred on Christmas Day, was not included in this report. So it’s closer to $100 million now. Base was third with 20 incidents, and Solana was fourth with 19.
The most surprising statistic is Solana. Despite being such a popular chain, it had some of the fewest exploits.
Compromised Private Keys Were Responsible for 20% of Hacks
According to Chainalysis, compromised private keys were responsible for 20% in 2025. While that may seem low, keep in mind this is being compared to incredibly massive exploits against large centralized players. Total attacks on wallets reached 158,000, triple the number just three years ago.
Private keys are a wallet’s master key. They give anyone who has them full access to the account’s assets. They are a valuable target for hackers and scammers online.
The Number of North Korea-Linked Hacks Climbs
North Korea-affiliated hacker groups have been a thorn in crypto’s side for some time. The most infamous, the Lazarus Group, is responsible for some of the largest hacks in DeFi history. Other groups include Kimsuky and TraderTraiter.
These hacker groups hit fewer targets this year but stole more funds. They’re now attacking with pinpoint accuracy, being more patient, and exploring new methods. They walked away with over $2 billion in 2025, and their total take throughout crypto history is approaching $7 billion, most of which is laundered through Chinese affiliates.
Approval Phishing Scams Declined in 2025
Finally, some good news. It wasn’t just rug pulls that saw a decline in 2025. Phishing scams decreased as well, making up just 5% of total losses. That’s a drop of nearly 70%.
However, that doesn’t mean that crypto users can sit on their laurels. You are, and always will be, the first (and sometimes only) line of defense in DeFi. Trade all you want on exchanges, but remember to keep the majority of your funds in cold storage. If there’s one thing crypto users can take from the North Korean hackers moving forward, it’s to work smarter, not harder.
The 2026 Outlook
Security remains an important consideration for anyone in the crypto space. Whether you’re a trader, investor, or protocol, taking measures to protect your assets is crucial. Keep your private keys safe.
We cannot help if you were hacked or scammed. But lost access to your funds due to a lost password or seed phrase, damaged hardware, or a similar issue, Professional Crypto Recovery can help. Contact us today for a free consultation.