Massive Crypto Losses in February: Bybit Hack Leads $1.61 Billion in Security Incidents
March 05, 2025 – 01:10 AM PST The cryptocurrency world faced a tumultuous February, with a staggering $1.61 billion lost across 22 significant security incidents, according to a detailed report from Lumyna. The most headline-grabbing of these breaches was a colossal $1.5 billion hack targeting the Bybit exchange, underscoring the persistent vulnerabilities within the Web3 ecosystem.Beosin, a prominent blockchain security firm, released its February Security Report on March 4, outlining the scale and nature of these incidents. The Bybit hack, which occurred on February 21, stands as the largest single loss of the month, shaking confidence in centralized exchanges. The attack saw cybercriminals exploit a sophisticated vulnerability, draining over 400,000 ETH from Bybit’s systems. Reports suggest the breach bypassed critical transaction verification protocols, leading to a liquidity crisis for the exchange. Despite assurances from Bybit that user funds remain secure and the platform remains solvent, the incident has reignited debates over the safety of keeping assets on centralized platforms. Beyond Bybit, the report highlights a range of other attacks, many targeting smart contract vulnerabilities. Decentralized lending protocol zkLend suffered a $9.5 million loss due to a logic flaw in its contract. The attacker manipulated the system, siphoning off funds in a breach that was reported on February 12. zkLend has since offered a 10% bounty to the hacker for the return of the remaining funds, a deadline for which has passed without resolution, leaving the protocol to pursue legal action. Similarly, Four.Meme, a memecoin platform on the BNB Chain, lost $183,000 after attackers exploited its failure to properly configure liquidity pools and pre-set prices. This incident, though smaller in scale, exemplifies the risks posed by oversight in smart contract deployment, a recurring theme in February’s security woes.The $1.61 billion total marks a dramatic escalation from previous months, with the Bybit hack alone accounting for over 93% of the losses. Other incidents, including wallet compromises and phishing scams, contributed to the remaining tally, though specifics on these lesser breaches were not detailed in Beosin’s overview. The report serves as a stark reminder of the “dark forest” nature of blockchain ecosystems, where vulnerabilities can lead to rapid and devastating financial impacts.Industry experts are now calling for enhanced security measures, particularly for exchanges and DeFi protocols. The Bybit incident, linked by some to North Korea’s Lazarus Group following FBI confirmation, highlights the sophistication of modern crypto attacks. Efforts to freeze stolen funds have seen limited success, with Bybit recovering approximately $43.65 million as of March 3 through multi-party coordination. As the crypto sector reels from February’s losses, the Beosin report underscores a silver lining: $52.45 million in stolen assets were frozen or recovered industry-wide this month, reflecting improved collaboration and response mechanisms. Nonetheless, with losses already surpassing $1.6 billion in 2025’s first two months, the year is shaping up to be a challenging one for Web3 security. For a comprehensive breakdown of these incidents, lumyna readers to its full February Security Report. As the industry braces for potential aftershocks, the message is clear: vigilance and robust security are more critical than ever in the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrency.
March 3, 2025 – In a bombshell accusation rocking the crypto world, notorious Bitcoin skeptic Peter Schiff has pointed the finger at President Donald Trump, claiming he orchestrated “the biggest crypto rug pull of all time.” Schiff, a vocal anti-crypto economist, is now calling on Congress to launch a full-scale investigation into what he alleges was a deliberate pump-and-dump scheme that sent the cryptocurrency market into a tailspin. The controversy erupted after a wild 48-hour rollercoaster in the crypto market, which saw its total market cap soar to record highs on Sunday—fueled by Trump’s cryptic Truth Social posts hinting at a U.S. strategic crypto reserve—only to plummet $350 billion by Monday evening. Schiff alleges that Trump’s posts, which spotlighted major coins like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and XRP, were timed to inflate prices during thin weekend trading, allowing insiders to cash out before the crash.“Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed ‘crypto President,’ just pulled the rug out from under retail investors,” Schiff declared in a fiery statement.
He’s demanding lawmakers subpoena emails, texts, and financial records from Trump’s inner circle to uncover who knew about the posts in advance and who profited from the chaos. “This wasn’t a policy win—it was a con,” he added.The White House has yet to respond, but Trump’s camp has previously touted his pro-crypto stance as a boon for American innovation. Meanwhile, the market carnage has left traders reeling, with some crying foul over what they see as a betrayal by the administration. As Congress weighs Schiff’s call to action, the crypto faithful are left wondering: was this a calculated grift or just another day in the volatile digital Wild West? Stay tuned—this saga’s far from over.
JUST IN: Bybit Hacker Successfully Launders $1.4 Billion in Stolen Ethereum
March 3, 2025 – In a stunning development in the world of cryptocurrency, blockchain security firm PeckShield has reported that the hacker responsible for the massive Bybit exchange heist has fully laundered all 500,000 stolen Ethereum (ETH), valued at approximately $1.4 billion. The breach, which occurred on February 21, 2025, marked one of the largest crypto thefts in history.According to PeckShieldAlert, the hacker, widely believed to be linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, completed the laundering process in just over a week, utilizing sophisticated methods including cross-chain swaps, decentralized exchanges, and mixers to obscure the funds' trail. The rapid pace of the operation has raised alarms about the vulnerabilities in the crypto ecosystem and the challenges of tracking illicit transactions.Bybit, a Dubai-based centralized exchange, had previously restored its reserves to cover user funds, ensuring no direct losses to customers. However, the incident has sparked renewed debate over security practices and the role of decentralized platforms in facilitating the movement of stolen assets. Authorities and blockchain analysts continue to investigate, but the successful laundering underscores the growing sophistication of crypto-related cybercrime.
A Lesson Learned: My Experience with Solana in 2025In February 2025
I decided to dive into the trending cryptocurrency Solana (SOL), lured by its skyrocketing price of $221 and whispers of it hitting $400 by year-end. I’d read about its lightning-fast transactions and growing ecosystem, so I invested $1,000, expecting a smooth ride. Little did I know, I was in for a lesson on timing and research. What Actually Happened? I bought SOL during a peak hype cycle, right after a major partnership announcement. My wallet confirmed the purchase, and I felt invincible. But within days, the price dipped 15% due to market profit-taking I hadn’t anticipated. Panicked, I dug into forums and learned I’d overlooked Solana’s volatility after big news. I’d also used a centralized exchange with high fees, eating into my gains when I tried to sell at a loss. My $1,000 shrank to $800, and I realized I’d jumped in blind. Key Takeaways for Others Timing Matters: Research market cycles—buying at a peak often leads to short-term losses. Fees Add Up: Compare exchange fees before trading; they can erode profits fast.Stay Calm: Volatility is normal; don’t rush to sell during a dip.Do Your Homework: Understand a coin’s fundamentals beyond the hype. Moving Forward I held onto my SOL, and by late February, it rebounded to $230. I didn’t recover fully, but I broke even. This taught me patience, "HODL" and the value of due diligence. Solana’s potential still excites me, its speed and DeFi growth are real, but now I’m wiser. Have you ridden a crypto wave like this? Sharing these bumps helps us all navigate this wild market!
Bitdeer Boosts Bitcoin Holdings with $4 Million Purchase
Bitcoin mining company Bitdeer has made waves in the crypto space by increasing its Bitcoin holdings by 50 BTC, a move announced via a tweet today. According to a February 28 report from PANews, the Singapore-based firm purchased the coins at $81,475 each, totaling approximately $4.07 million. This acquisition brings Bitdeer’s total Bitcoin stash to 1,011 BTC, underscoring its confidence in the leading cryptocurrency’s long-term value.The purchase comes amid a dynamic market landscape, with Bitcoin’s price hovering around key levels and institutional interest steadily rising. Bitdeer, a Nasdaq-listed player known for its blockchain and high-performance computing innovations, continues to strengthen its position in the mining sector. This strategic accumulation aligns with the company’s broader growth efforts, including recent expansions like its $21.7 million power project acquisition in Alberta, Canada, aimed at vertical integration.Analysts see this as a bullish signal, reflecting Bitdeer’s belief in Bitcoin’s resilience despite market volatility. With its operational footprint spanning the U.S., Norway, and Bhutan, Bitdeer’s latest move could inspire other miners to bolster their treasuries. Investors are watching closely as the firm navigates 2025’s evolving crypto terrain.
Fresh off Binance Launchpool, RedStone doubles down with World Chain. High-quality oracle data meets L2 innovation—expect DeFi on this network to level up fast. #CryptoNews #Blockchain #L2
Interest-Bearing Stablecoins Set to Surge, Says OKG ResearchFebruary 27, 2025 – A recent analysis by OKG Research, reported by PANews on February 28, forecasts a significant rise in the market share of interest-bearing stablecoins over the next three to five years, potentially exceeding 10%. This projection follows the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) approval of Figure Markets’ launch of YLDS, the first interest-bearing stablecoin, marking a pivotal shift in the U.S. cryptocurrency regulatory landscape. Experts see this as evidence of the SEC moving from a "passive defense" stance to one of "proactive guidance."Unlike traditional stablecoins like USDT and USDC, which have yet to fully address regulatory hurdles, YLDS sidesteps key controversies surrounding U.S. stablecoin regulations by aligning with existing securities laws. This compliance-focused approach signals a maturing market and growing acceptance of innovative crypto assets by regulators. The approval is viewed as a milestone that could pave the way for broader adoption of interest-bearing stablecoins.Data highlights the rising popularity of these assets. Since 2024, the market capitalization of interest-bearing stablecoins within the Ethereum ecosystem has surged from 0.4% to approximately 5.4%. OKG Research predicts that, bolstered by the SEC’s green light, this sector could experience explosive growth, attracting significant institutional capital. The report suggests that these stablecoins may become a major asset class, second only to Bitcoin, in drawing large-scale investments.Figure Markets’ pioneering approval from the SEC underscores the potential for interest-bearing stablecoins to reshape the crypto market. As regulatory clarity improves, analysts anticipate a wave of innovation and investment, positioning these assets as a cornerstone of the evolving digital economy over the coming years. #StablecoinRatings
JUST IN: A leading crypto miner, bitdeer, has increased its Bitcoin portfolio—acquiring an additional 50 BTC for $4.82M. With total holdings now at 911 BTC as of February 23, 2025 (Singapore Time), the bold move has sparked speculation about a new wave of strategic accumulation in the digital asset space. #bitcoin
Just IN: Lumyna Media has uncovered a new cyber breach involving the ybit hackers and @Chainflip’s cross-chain exchange tool. In a rapid, orchestrated move just 40 minutes ago, the hackers transferred 5,000 ETH to multiple addresses. By exploiting Chainflip’s system—which is designed to convert ETH into other assets across various blockchains—the perpetrators managed to launder 205 ETH, effectively masking the illicit origins of the funds. This incident has raised alarm bells within the crypto community, highlighting potential vulnerabilities in cross-chain operations. Chainflip’s innovative tool, while streamlining multi-asset transactions, appears to have provided an opening for sophisticated cybercriminals. Experts now caution that the inherent complexity of these platforms may inadvertently create security loopholes that bad actors can exploit. In response, cybersecurity teams and crypto authorities are collaborating to trace the stolen assets and secure the compromised systems. Investors and users of decentralized finance platforms are advised to exercise heightened vigilance and review their security practices. This breach not only serves as a stark reminder of the persistent risks within the digital asset ecosystem but also underscores the urgent need for continuous improvements in blockchain security measures as the landscape evolve #BybitSecuritySearch https://etherscan.io/address/0x60e4c24542ed25f4623f4499af52be4efd2177a8