According to a report by TRM Labs, the crypto sector has faced record losses of $2.1 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by various attacks on infrastructure and state-sponsored actions.
New Loss Record
In the first half of 2025, over 80% of stolen funds were lost due to infrastructure attacks, which yielded criminals on average 10 times more than other types of attacks. TRM Labs reports that such attacks target the technical backbone of systems to gain unauthorized control or redirect assets.
Causes of Losses
Among the major attack vectors, malicious protocol exploits accounted for 12% of total losses. TRM Labs emphasizes that these attacks exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts and the core logic of blockchain protocols to extract funds or destabilize the system. A notable instance includes North Korea's $1.5 billion hack of the Bybi crypto exchange.
Need for Collaboration to Combat Threats
TRM Labs highlights the need to strengthen fundamental security in the crypto industry, including multifactor authentication, cold asset storage, and frequent audits. There is also a need for multifaceted collaboration among local law enforcement, financial intelligence units, and blockchain intelligence companies. "The record thefts in H1 2025 serve as a call to action for a united approach to security," the company notes.
The loss figures in the cryptocurrency sector for 2025 underline the need for collective efforts to enhance security and counter new threats.
