As interest in Bitcoin (BTC) and cryptocurrencies grows, hackers have also turned their attention to this field. According to PeckShieldAlert, a blockchain security expert, there will be a significant increase in cryptocurrency-related hacking incidents in 2024.
PeckShield has reported that cryptocurrency attacks increased by 15% in 2024, with Ethereum being the primary target for hackers. In a post on its X account, the blockchain security firm revealed that over $3 billion was lost due to crypto-related attacks and scams in 2024, which represents a 15% increase compared to the previous year. More than 300 attacks took place, marking a 30% increase from the previous year.
PeckShield also highlighted that decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms are the main targets for hackers, citing weak security practices as the root cause of these vulnerabilities. In terms of specific blockchain attacks, Ethereum (ETH) suffered the most, accounting for 34.8% of the incidents and 47.3% of the total losses.
The report stated, “Crypto hacking incidents exceeded 300 incidents in 2024, with losses exceeding $2.15 billion. While DeFi protocols remain a prime target, hackers are increasingly focusing on vulnerable organizations and individuals, exploiting poor private key management and weak security practices.”
Furthermore, the report revealed that the gaming industry experienced losses of $502 million, while the DeFi industry suffered losses of $290 million.
According to PeckShieldAlert, in 2024, there were over 300 hacking incidents in the crypto industry, resulting in losses surpassing $2.15 billion, marking a 30% increase from the $1.51 billion in losses reported in 2023. The largest spike in attacks occurred in May, with $574.6 million stolen across 28 hacks.
It is important to note that this information is not meant to be investment advice.