Over $3 Billion Lost in 2025 Crypto Hacks

• Lyla Velez
• July 26, 2025
• News
• 0 Comments

Global Ledger reports a record $3.01 billion in cryptocurrency stolen across 119 hacks during the first half of 2025, with laundering occurring at unprecedented speed, often within minutes through centralized exchanges.

The rapid launder of over $3 billion in stolen crypto through exchanges highlights vulnerabilities and market instability.

Global Ledger’s Report

Global Ledger, a Swiss blockchain analytics firm, reported that $3.01 billion in cryptocurrency was stolen through 119 hacks in early 2025. The acceleration of laundering processes has left centralized exchanges particularly vulnerable.

Major Incidents

Major incidents, including the ByBit hack of $1.5 billion, underscore the involvement of state-sponsored groups. “In 22.7% of cases, the laundering process was fully completed before any internal or public announcement of the breach” (Global Ledger report). North Korean-linked actors reportedly contributed significantly to these losses by exploiting centralized exchange vulnerabilities.

The immediate repercussions included a notable impact on total locked value (TVL) in DeFi protocols. These losses demonstrate the enhanced threat posed by infrastructure-targeting attacks, which led to 80% of the reported losses.

Financial Implications

Financial implications have included changes to compliance operations. With laundering finalized quickly, centralized exchange teams face extreme pressure, often having only 10–15 minutes to intercept transactions before irrecoverable loss.

Future Outlook

Potential outcomes involve improved security protocols and tougher compliance measures, as industry leaders push for infrastructure resilience. The emphasis on post-quantum cryptography and anti-phishing protocols signifies a shift toward robust protection against sophisticated cyber threats.