Crypto platforms are once again under fire, with the first half of 2025 revealing the extent of the industry’s security cracks.
In just six months, hackers looted over $2.1 billion worth of digital assets—an unsettling milestone that nearly eclipses the total for all of 2024.
At the heart of the chaos was a single catastrophic incident: the February breach of Bybit, which alone saw $1.5 billion vanish. This single event accounted for nearly 70% of all stolen funds during the period. But even without it, the sector would still have lost over half a billion dollars—making it one of the most damaging half-years since 2023.
While DeFi vulnerabilities persist, the real threat is now infrastructure-level weakness. TRM Labs, which compiled the data, found that the majority of attacks exploited critical access points: stolen keys, compromised user interfaces, and internal flaws. These aren’t just coding mistakes—they’re breaches of trust at the system level. The average heist ballooned to nearly $30 million, up sharply from last year.
But it’s not just rogue hackers at play. State-backed actors are increasingly using crypto theft as a geopolitical tool. North Korea remains the most aggressive, allegedly responsible for $1.6 billion in stolen assets so far this year—including the Bybit attack. The funds, experts suggest, are used to prop up weapons programs and circumvent sanctions.
In a newer twist, politically motivated attacks are also surfacing. One June incident, believed to be linked to Israeli operatives, hit Iran’s top crypto exchange, Nobitex. Over $90 million was drained and sent to unspendable blockchain addresses—a clear sign the goal wasn’t theft, but disruption.
As crypto adoption grows, so does its value as both a target and a weapon. The first half of 2025 makes one thing clear: digital assets are no longer just financial instruments—they’re now part of the global conflict playbook.
Alexander Stefanov
Reporter at Coindoo
Alex is an experienced finance journalist and a cryptocurrency and blockchain enthusiast. With over 8 years of experience covering the crypto, blockchain and fintech industries, he deeply understands the complex and constantly evolving world of digital assets. His insightful and thought-provoking articles provide readers with a clear picture of the latest developments and trends in the market. His passionate approach allows him to break down complex ideas into accessible and insightful content. Follow up on his content to be up to date with the most important trends and topics.
Source: https://coindoo.com/crypto-hackers-steal-2-1b-in-2025-amid-rising-geopolitical-attacks/