- Though down from records, hackers still stole nearly $2 billion in cryptocurrency across dozens of cyberattacks in 2023.
- Massive breaches plagued sites like Euler Finance and Multichain.
- Experts forecast sophisticated crypto theft flourishing given tremendous value at stake and poor safeguards.
Crypto Heists 2023
The amount of cryptocurrency stolen by hackers ticked down in 2023 but still approached a staggering $2 billion across breaches and cyberattacks.
After record highs in recent years, early data hints at a potential peak.
Per web3 security firm De.FI‘s tracking, about $2 billion in crypto, got pilfered from dozens of incidents.
Still, an eye-watering figure that “underscores persistent vulnerabilities” as thefts persist despite a bear market.
Web3 Security Firm’s Visions
Other estimates from blockchain intelligence company TRM Labs peg it slightly lower at $1.7 billion as of mid-December. But compounding crypto platform hacks signals ongoing risks.
Some of the largest heists include $200 million from Euler Finance, $126 million from Multichain, and $114 million from Poloniex.
That follows a record of $3.8 billion stolen in 2022, partly from prolific North Korean state hackers.
With crypto holding tremendous monetary value but poor security measures in many cases, industry experts expect sophisticated hacking campaigns targeting digital assets to continue flourishing in 2024 and beyond.
