Crypto Heists Surge in 2025: Over $2.17 Billion Stolen in The First Half of The Year

The year 2025 is shaping up to be the most devastating on record for cryptocurrency-related theft.

According to Chainalysis report, the first half (H1) of 2025, has witnessed unprecedented levels of cryptocurrency theft, with over $2.17 billion already stolen from crypto services, surpassing the total losses of 2024.

The bulk of these losses stems from a single catastrophic incident, the North Korean-linked $1.5 billion hack of ByBit, now the largest individual hack in crypto history.

By the end of June, the value stolen year-to-date (YTD) had already exceeded 2022’s totals by 17%, making 2025 the most dangerous year for crypto holders and platforms. If current trends persist, total thefts could surpass $4 billion by the end of the year.

A growing share of this activity now targets individual users, not just centralized services. Personal wallet compromises account for 23.35% of all stolen funds so far in 2025, highlighting a worrying trend of increasingly personalized attacks.

Among these, “wrench attacks” which involve physical violence or coercion to force access to a victim’s crypto assets  have risen sharply. These attacks appear to correlate with bitcoin price movements, suggesting attackers strike when perceived value is high.

Also, illicit crypto volumes in 2025 are on pace to match or exceed 2024’s $51 billion, despite major shakeups in the ecosystem. The closure of Garantex, a sanctioned Russian exchange, and expected FinCEN measures against Cambodia-based Huione Group, a platform that reportedly processed over $70 billion in inflows have disrupted how bad actors move funds.

Stolen fund activity has emerged as the top concern in 2025. While other illicit crypto activities show mixed year-on-year trends, theft is rising at an alarming pace. The trajectory of theft in 2025 far exceeds prior years, with the cumulative value stolen climbing past $2 billion in just six months.

A deeper look into personal wallet thefts reveals a troubling increase in violent crime. 2025 is projected to witness nearly double the number of physical attacks against crypto holders than any previous year, with many incidents involving maiming, kidnapping, or even murder. Given the likelihood of underreporting, the real figures may be significantly higher.

There is a clear correlation between these violent incidents and the future trajectory of bitcoin’s price. Rising valuations or even the perception of upcoming increases seem to embolden attackers, especially those targeting known holders.

Interestingly, many of these crimes involve basic laundering methods, underscoring a common trend: organized crime groups increasingly use crypto for its speed and perceived anonymity, but lack the technical sophistication of more advanced threat actors.

Despite this, blockchain technology still offers law enforcement a powerful tool. Unlike traditional financial systems, blockchains serve as a single, immutable ledger — enabling real-time tracking of funds, mapping of criminal networks, and cross-border investigative leads.

Geographically, North America leads in both bitcoin and altcoin theft, likely due to high crypto adoption and the presence of high-value targets. Europe dominates ether and stablecoin theft, possibly due to asset preference or higher liquidity. Meanwhile, the APAC region ranks second for BTC theft and third for ETH, while Central and South Asia & Oceania (CSAO) rank second in altcoin and stablecoin thefts.

Sub-Saharan Africa consistently reports the lowest value stolen, likely a reflection of lower crypto wealth, not necessarily reduced victimization.

Thus far, 2025 data present a troubling picture of how crypto crime is evolving. While the ecosystem has matured in terms of regulatory frameworks and institutional security practices, threat actors have correspondingly upgraded their capabilities and expanded their range of targets.

The ByBit hack which occurred in February 2025, demonstrates that even sophisticated industry entities remain vulnerable to advanced persistent threats, while the surge in personal wallet compromises shows that individual holders of cryptocurrency face unprecedented risks. The geographic expansion of crypto crime, and the correlation between asset prices and violent attacks add additional complexity to an already challenging security environment.

In summary, the crypto industry faces an intensifying security crisis in 2025, with both digital and physical threats on the rise. As attackers grow bolder and more targeted, the need for robust protection, education, and global collaboration has never been more urgent.