Web3 Hacking Losses Surge to $4B in 2025, Driven by North Korean Groups
Written by Ohris M. Greyoon, Blockchain & Crypto Expert
Source: Coinmarketcap
Updated: Dec 29 2025- Loss Surge: In 2025, Web3 hacking losses soared to $3.95 billion, marking a significant increase from 2024, revealing critical vulnerabilities in the industry's operational defenses that could undermine investor confidence and slow blockchain technology's mainstream adoption.
- North Korean Role: Over 50% of these losses, approximately $2 billion, are attributed to advanced persistent threat (APT) groups linked to North Korea, which exploit complex social engineering tactics, indicating a failure of traditional cybersecurity models in the Web3 environment.
- Security Vulnerabilities: The majority of security incidents stem from a lack of operational security (OpSec) discipline, with losses from private key mismanagement and phishing attacks far exceeding those from smart contract code vulnerabilities, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced human and procedural security measures.
- Future Outlook: Hacken anticipates a significant improvement in Web3 security standards starting in 2026, driven by mandatory compliance requirements from regulatory bodies, pushing the industry towards security-by-design principles to address escalating security threats.
About the author
Ohris M. Greyoon
Ohris M. Greyoon holds a Master’s in Computer Science from MIT and has 10 years of experience in blockchain technology and cryptocurrency markets. A pioneer in decentralized finance (DeFi) analysis, he leads Intellectia’s Crypto News, offering cutting-edge insights into digital assets.
