Cryptocurrency hackers orchestrated over ten cyberattacks, resulting in a total theft of $313.86 million in digital assets. According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, phishing attacks were responsible for the majority of these thefts, accounting for 93.5% of the stolen funds, which amounts to $293.4 million.
Among the top incidents, two major phishing attacks were particularly notable. One attack resulted in the theft of $238 million in Bitcoin, while another {Dai} (DAI) , leading to a loss of $55.4 million. Additional significant incidents included an exploit on the Ronin Network, which recovered $12 million but experienced unauthorized transactions totaling $5.1 million. The decentralized finance protocol Nexera also suffered a loss of $1.83 million due to a smart contract exploit.
The ongoing concern about cyberattacks in the cryptocurrency industry is highlighted by a recent Immunefi report, which indicates that $1.21 billion in digital assets have been lost to hacks and rug pulls year-to-date as of August 2024. In a notable event from July, the WazirX crypto exchange experienced a significant breach, losing $234.9 million from a multisig wallet. WazirX is currently working on a phased recovery plan, which includes legal actions in Singapore.
In response to the rising threat, an elite team of ethical hackers, known as the Security Alliance or SEAL, has been established to enhance security measures and prevent breaches. Led by white hat hacker and Paradigm researcher Samczsun, SEAL has addressed over 900 hack-related incidents since its inception in August 2023.
An Immunefi report released on August 22 notes that nearly 80% of cryptocurrencies never recover their value following a hack or exploit, often resulting in more substantial damage to projects than the initial breach. This statistic underscores the critical need for robust security measures and proactive defenses in the cryptocurrency sector.