Blockchain security firm SlowMist just released its 2025 mid-year report, and the numbers are alarming:
$2.373 billion was lost in 121 crypto hacks during the first 6 months of the year. While the number of attacks dropped from last year, the total losses jumped 66%.
โ Key Highlights from the Report
๐น DeFi still under attack, but losses shrink
โก๏ธ 92 out of 121 attacks targeted DeFi protocols (76%).
โก๏ธ Losses: $470M (down from $659M in H1 2024) โ better security measures working.
๐น Centralized exchanges hit hardest in value
โก๏ธ Only 11 attacks, but massive $1.88B in losses.
โก๏ธ Bybit alone lost $1.46B in one incident.
๐น Ethereum most targeted chain
โก๏ธ Ethereum: $38.59M lost
โก๏ธ Solana: $5.8M
โก๏ธ BNB Chain: $5.49M
โ How Hackers Struck
๐ธ Top attack methods:
โก๏ธ Account compromise โ 42 cases
โก๏ธ Smart contract bugs โ 35 cases
โก๏ธ 2 mega-hacks exceeded $100M each
๐ธ New tricks used in 2025:
โก๏ธ Phishing EIP-7702 actions (wallet-draining through smart contract permissions)
โก๏ธ Deepfakes of influencers/executives used in scam promos
โก๏ธ Fake Telegram security bots installing malware
โก๏ธ Malicious browser add-ons (e.g., fake Osiris)
โก๏ธ Phishing via LinkedIn jobs with code-injected repositories
โก๏ธ Insider leaks at Coinbase exposed KYC data
โ
Asset Recovery Efforts Improve
โก๏ธ $270M recovered/frozen from 9 major attacks
โก๏ธ Tether froze 209 ETH addresses | Circle froze 44 USDC wallets
โก๏ธ InMist Lab helped recover $14.56M, including full recovery of $8.44M from KiloEx hack in 3.5 days
โ Regulatory Landscape Strengthens
๐น New crypto rules worldwide:
โก๏ธ US rolled out the GENIUS Act
โก๏ธ Hong Kong enacted Stablecoin Ordinance (effective Aug 1)
โก๏ธ EU implemented Anti-Money Laundering Regulation โ banning anonymous wallets & off-exchange coin flows
These laws are building a global framework for crypto safety with stronger coordination between regulators and platforms.
๐ฌ Final Takeaway
While the number of hacks dropped, the damage increased massively. Centralized exchanges remain high-risk, and multi-vector scams are evolving fast. Still, recovery rates are improving and global regulations are stepping up.
Stay alert. Use trusted wallets, avoid unknown dApps, and always verify before you sign.