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2025’s Biggest Crypto Hacks: North Korea Stole $2B

Yeliz Akmaca — Fri, 19 Dec 2025 11:30:02 +0000

2025 became a historic turning point for cybersecurity in the crypto market. North Korea-linked hacker groups stole over $2 billion in Ethereum, Solana, and other digital assets throughout the year. The number of attacks decreased, but the size of individual hacks reached record levels.

If you want to learn all major crypto hacks of 2025 and North Korea’s methods, read on for full details.

Why 2025 Crypto Hacks Were Fewer but More Destructive

On-chain analytics firms report that North Korea-linked attacks fell by 74% compared to 2024. Despite fewer incidents, the total stolen assets increased significantly. Hackers focused on high-yield, long-planned operations rather than numerous small attacks.

This strategy shift shows that even with increased security investments, crypto firms remain vulnerable. Attackers adapted to defense systems, developing increasingly sophisticated methods.

Bybit Hack Becomes Historic

In February 2025, Bybit was hacked for $1.5 billion, marking the largest single crypto theft in history. This single attack accounted for most of the stolen funds in 2025.

Other breaches, like the Upbit hack, demonstrated that centralized exchanges still carry high risk. Large liquidity makes these platforms attractive targets for state-backed hackers.

Top 10 Biggest Crypto Hacks in History (Up to 2025)

Bybit (2025) – $1.5B ETH stolen
Coincheck (2018) – $534M NEM stolen
FTX (2022) – $477M crypto lost
Mt. Gox (2014) – $460M Bitcoin stolen
DMM Bitcoin (2024) – $308M BTC stolen
KuCoin (2020) – $281M crypto stolen
WazirX (2024) – $230M assets stolen
BitMart (2021) – $196M ETH and BNB stolen
BitGrail (2018) – $170M Nano tokens stolen
CoinBene (2019) – $105M ETH stolen

How North Korea’s Crypto Hack Strategy Evolved

Since 2016, North Korea has stolen $6.75 billion in crypto assets. In 2025, their tactics changed significantly. Hackers now infiltrate crypto firms as IT employees, gaining insider access to security systems and private key processes.

Some groups even impersonate recruitment teams of major crypto firms, conducting fake job interviews to trick targets into downloading malicious software that steals login credentials.

Why North Korea Leads in Crypto Hacks

Crypto exchanges handle billions in assets daily. A single successful breach can fund North Korea’s state activities for months.

By early December 2025, total crypto theft reached $3.4 billion, with 59% linked to North Korea, highlighting their dominance in the global crypto hack ecosystem.

Individual Wallet Attacks Rise, Losses Decline

Approximately 158,000 hacks targeted personal wallets in 2025. Around 80,000 users lost crypto in these attacks. Despite more victims, total personal losses fell to $713 million, down from $1.5 billion in 2024.

This indicates stronger personal security but a shift toward smaller, more numerous targets.

Legal Pressure and a New Era

Regulatory scrutiny increased in 2025. Recently, a court ruled that XRP is legally considered property, setting a precedent for stolen crypto cases.

Experts predict this will lead to more investigations and enforcement actions in the future.

How North Korea Launders Stolen Funds

Researchers found North Korean hackers use Chinese money-laundering services and cross-chain bridges to obscure fund movement. A 45-day dormant period after major thefts is typical, followed by fragmented transfers across different networks.2025 data show crypto hacks did not decline—they became more centralized and destructive. North Korea remains the largest state-backed threat to the crypto ecosystem.

Security is no longer just technical; it is a strategic factor directly affecting market stability for exchanges, DeFi protocols, and individual users.

You can also freely share your thoughts and comments about the topic in the comment section. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on our Telegram, YouTube, and Twitter channels for the latest news and updates.

The post 2025’s Biggest Crypto Hacks: North Korea Stole $2B appeared first on Coin Engineer.

$244M Lost To Crypto Hacks In May Despite 40% Drop In Attacks

Yigit Taha OZTURK — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 14:00:53 +0000

According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, around $244.1 million was lost in 20 major crypto hacks during May 2025 — a 39% drop compared to April. However, the decline doesn’t paint a full picture, as one attack alone accounted for nearly $223 million in damages.

The biggest blow came on May 22, when Cetus, a decentralized exchange, was compromised. Hackers exploited a flaw in the “most significant bits” (MSB) check, manipulating liquidity parameters and creating disproportionately large positions, according to cybersecurity firm Dedaub.

You Might Be Interested In: Elon Musk Talks About the Name of a New Memecoin!

In a partial win for the ecosystem, Cetus and the Sui Network managed to freeze $157 million, representing about 71% of the stolen assets.

DeFi Platforms Remain Under Siege

The second-largest incident in May targeted the Cork Protocol, resulting in a $12 million loss. Attackers stole approximately 3,761 Wrapped Staked Ether (wstETH) and quickly converted it to ETH.

Other major breaches included:

A suspected North Korea-linked $5.2 million hack
An MBU token exploit worth $2.2 million
A MapleStory Universe vulnerability that led to a $1.2 million loss

Amid growing pressure, the crypto industry is boosting its defense posture. On May 31, Cointelegraph reported that BitMEX’s security team identified operational gaps within the Lazarus Group, a state-sponsored North Korean hacker unit. The counter-operation exposed key infrastructure elements like IP addresses, databases, and tracking algorithms.

Despite the dip in May, earlier months were worse. In Q1 2025 alone, hackers stole over $1.63 billion, with Bybit’s February breach accounting for $1.53 billion — one of the most severe crypto thefts in history.

The post $244M Lost To Crypto Hacks In May Despite 40% Drop In Attacks appeared first on Coin Engineer.

EU Regulator Warns Crypto Could Threaten Market Stability!

Yigit Taha OZTURK — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 10:00:41 +0000

The EU markets watchdog ESMA warned that as the crypto industry grows and becomes more interconnected with traditional finance, it could pose significant risks to financial stability. Speaking on April 8, ESMA’s Executive Director Natasha Cazenave told the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee: “Future sharp drops in crypto prices could have spillover effects on our financial system.”

Cazenave emphasized that crypto currently represents only 1% of global financial assets and is not yet a major threat. However, she pointed to rapidly increasing connections, especially in the more crypto-friendly US.

Concerns include spot crypto ETFs, stablecoin usage, hacks, scams, and high-profile collapses like the $1.4B Bybit exploit and FTX’s 2022 downfall.

You Might Be Interested In: Elon Musk Talks About the Name of a New Memecoin!

To counter such risks, the EU has already rolled out the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation. While Cazenave called MiCA a breakthrough, she stressed that “there is no such thing as a safe crypto-asset,” and additional regulations may be needed.

Europe Still Hesitant on Crypto

According to Cazenave, over 95% of European banks remain uninvolved in crypto-related activities. However, retail interest is increasing, with an estimated 10% to 20% of investors in Europe having some crypto exposure—reflecting broader global trends.

These warnings come amid recent double-digit drops in both crypto and stock markets, as macroeconomic uncertainties persist.

You can also freely share your thoughts and comments about the topic in the comment section. Additionally, don’t forget to follow us on our Telegram, YouTube, and Twitter channels for the latest news and updates.

The post EU Regulator Warns Crypto Could Threaten Market Stability! appeared first on Coin Engineer.