Cryptocurrency theft is set to reach unprecedented levels in 2025, with over $2.17 billion stolen from crypto services by mid-July, according to Chainalysis. This figure already surpasses 2024's total thefts and is 17% higher than 2022's previous annual record. The accelerated pace saw the $2 billion threshold breached in just 142 days – 72 days faster than in 2022.
North Korea's Lazarus Group accounts for 69% of losses through the $1.5 billion Bybit hack. Simultaneously, personal wallet attacks now represent 23.35% of stolen funds, driven by improved exchange security pushing criminals toward individuals. Bitcoin holders face heightened 'wrench attacks' – physical coercion to extract keys – with incidents correlating to BTC price surges. Chainalysis warns 2025 could see twice as many physical attacks as any prior year.
Laundering tactics show sophistication divergence: Service attackers use cross-chain bridges and mixers, while wallet thieves rely on basic methods like CEX deposits. Criminals now hold stolen assets longer and pay fees up to 14.5x higher than average to evade detection, particularly for large service heists requiring urgent fund movement before freezing.