2025 Crypto Thefts Hit Record $4.04B — Hacks and Scams Surge
Security firm PeckShield reports 2025 set a new record for crypto thefts, with total losses exceeding $4.04 billion — a roughly 34.2% increase from $3.01 billion in 2024. Losses from hacks reached $2.67 billion (up ~24.2% year‑over‑year), while scams accounted for $1.37 billion (up ~64.2%). Approximately $334.9 million of the stolen assets have been recovered or frozen in 2025, down from $488.5 million in 2024. PeckShield attributes the spike to systemic vulnerabilities in centralized infrastructure and a strategic shift by attackers toward targeted social‑engineering operations. This data underscores elevated operational and counterparty risk for traders, highlighting the importance of custody practices, due diligence on centralized platforms, and heightened vigilance against phishing and targeted scams.
Bearish
A record $4.04B in crypto thefts increases perceived and real risk across the market. Higher hack and scam losses typically reduce investor confidence, raise counterparty and custody concerns, and can trigger outflows from centralized exchanges and risky tokens — a bearish pressure especially on smaller-cap and custodial-dependent assets. The decline in recovered funds further amplifies losses. Historically, large theft waves (e.g., 2016–2018 exchange hacks, 2022 bridge exploits) led to short‑term selloffs, increased volatility, and greater demand for self‑custody and regulated venues. Short term: expect elevated volatility, potential sell pressure on affected tokens and platforms, and flight to quality (BTC, stablecoins). Long term: may accelerate migration to improved custody solutions, insurance products, and stricter exchange compliance — which could stabilize the market but also impose higher costs and fragmentation. Traders should reduce exposure to custodial risk, tighten counterparty limits, and monitor news of exploit attributions or exchange solvency closely.