Crypto's Costly Year: How Hackers Stole Billions in 2025

In 2025, the crypto world faced a tough year. Hackers stole a huge amount of money, over $2.72 billion. This was even more than the previous year, despite the crypto market being slow.

Major Exchanges and DeFi Platforms Targeted

Bybit: The Biggest Hit

The biggest hit came early in February when Bybit, a major exchange, lost about $1.5 billion. Experts think North Korean hackers were behind this attack. The stolen money was kept in what should have been safe storage, called cold, multi-signature wallets. This made the hack even more shocking.

Coinbase: Data Breach and Extortion

Coinbase, one of the most trusted names in crypto, had a data breach. Hackers got customer details and demanded money to keep quiet. Coinbase offered a reward to catch the criminals. Even though no money was stolen directly, fixing the problem could cost the company up to $400 million.

DeFi Platforms Under Attack

DeFi platforms were also targeted.

Cetus Protocol: Fake Tokens Trick the System

Cetus Protocol, a big name in the Sui ecosystem, lost $223 million. Hackers used fake tokens to trick the system and steal money. Amazingly, Cetus was able to recover about $162 million.

Nobitex: Pro-Israeli Hacker Group Blamed

Nobitex, Iran's largest crypto exchange, lost $90 million in another attack. This time, a pro-Israeli hacker group was blamed. However, many ordinary investors were affected, which made the situation more complicated.

UPCX: Stolen Private Key Leads to Loss

UPCX, another DeFi platform, lost $70 million. Hackers used a stolen private key to take the money. The value of UPCX's token dropped a lot after the attack.

BtcTurk and Upbit: Repeated Attacks

BtcTurk, a Turkish exchange, was hit twice in two years. In 2025, hackers stole $48 million. Upbit, a South Korean exchange, lost $36 million in November. Again, North Korean hackers were suspected.

Experts Warn of Sophisticated Attacks

Experts say that these attacks are getting more organized and sophisticated. They are faster and easier to scale than before. North Korea's involvement in these hacks is a big concern. The country's IT worker schemes are making these attacks even more advanced.