According to data from blockchain monitoring companies, hackers stole a total of $2.7 billion worth of digital assets over the year. This figure surpasses both 2024 ($2.2 billion) and 2023 ($2 billion), making it the highest amount ever recorded in the history of the sector.
The largest cyber heist of the year took place at the Dubai-based exchange Bybit. Hackers managed to steal approximately $1.4 billion from the platform, an amount considered one of the largest financial thefts in human history. The FBI and independent blockchain analysts have blamed hacker groups linked to the North Korean government for the attack. Overall, more than $2 billion of the funds stolen in 2025 are attributed to hackers operating under the control of Kim Jong Un’s administration. According to reports, North Korea uses these funds to finance its nuclear program.
Other large-scale attacks include thefts from the Cetus decentralized exchange ($223 million), the Balancer protocol ($128 million), and the Phemex exchange ($73 million). Leading security firms such as Chainalysis and TRM Labs warn that cybercriminals’ interest in crypto exchanges and DeFi projects is not declining; on the contrary, the scale of attacks continues to grow every year.
