Blockchain monitoring data reveals that cybercriminals have stolen a record-breaking $2.7 billion in cryptocurrency this year, marking the highest annual theft in crypto history.

In 2025, dozens of cryptocurrency theft incidents targeted exchanges, Web3 platforms, and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. The largest attack involved Dubai-based exchange Bybit, where hackers stole approximately $1.4 billion in crypto. Blockchain analysts and the FBI attribute the breach to a North Korean state-sponsored hacking group, known for its frequent crypto-related cybercrimes in recent years.

This heist is the largest known cryptocurrency theft to date and ranks among the biggest financial thefts in history. Prior to Bybit’s breach, the record was held by two 2022 incidents: the $624 million Ronin Network hack and the $611 million Poly Network exploit.

According to data shared with TechCrunch, blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis and TRM Labs estimate total crypto thefts in 2025 at $2.7 billion. Chainalysis also reported an additional $700,000 stolen from individual crypto wallets.

De.Fi, a Web3 security firm managing the REKT crypto theft database, similarly estimates losses from hacks and thefts at $2.7 billion this year.

Other major 2025 crypto breaches include: - Decentralized exchange Cetus, losing $223 million - Ethereum-based protocol Balancer, hacked for $128 million - Crypto exchange Phemex, robbed of over $73 million

Cyberattacks on crypto exchanges and DeFi projects show no signs of slowing. In 2024, hackers stole $2.2 billion, while 2023 saw $2 billion in losses.