Hackers Stole Over $2.7B in Crypto in 2025, Data Shows

Cybercriminals stole $2.7 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, setting a new record for crypto-related hacks, according to blockchain-monitoring firms. Once again, multiple crypto heists affected cryptocurrency exchanges and decentralised finance (DeFi) projects. The largest hack of the year occurred at the Dubai-based crypto exchange Bybit, where hackers stole approximately $1.4 billion in crypto. Blockchain analysis firms, along with the FBI, have accused North Korean government hackers—who have been the most prolific group targeting crypto in recent years—of being behind this massive heist.

This breach at Bybit constitutes the most significant known crypto theft to date and one of the largest financial heists in history. Before the Bybit breach, the largest crypto thefts occurred in 2022, with the Ronin Network and the Poly Network hacks resulting in losses of $624 million and $611 million, respectively.

According to data shared with TechCrunch by cryptocurrency-monitoring firms Chainalysis and TRM Labs, a total of $2.7 billion was stolen in crypto in 2025. Chainalysis also tracked an additional $700,000 stolen from individual crypto wallets.

De. Fi, the web3 security firm that runs the REKT database tracking crypto thefts, also estimated $2.7 billion in stolen and hacked crypto for the year.

As usual, North Korean government hackers were the most successful in crypto thefts throughout 2025, stealing at least $2 billion. According to estimates from Chainalysis and Elliptic, North Korean hackers have stolen around $6 billion since 2017. These thefts are believed to be funding North Korea’s sanctioned nuclear weapons program.

Other significant crypto hacks this year included the breach at Cetus, a decentralised exchange, which resulted in a $223 million loss; the attack on Balancer, an Ethereum blockchain-based protocol, leading to a $128 million loss; and the hack of the crypto exchange Phemex, where more than $73 million was stolen.

Cybercriminals targeting crypto exchanges and DeFi projects are showing no signs of slowing down. In 2024, hackers stole $2.2 billion in crypto, and in 2023, the total amount stolen reached $2 billion.