Crypto scams in 2025 are hitting record highs and they’re getting more dangerous than ever.
According to Chainalysis, crypto thieves have already stolen $2.17 billion in the first half of this year. That’s more than what was taken in all of 2024, and it’s likely the number could double by the end of this year. The most alarming part? These attacks are no longer just online.
“Personal wallets accounted for over 23% of total thefts, the report reveals and many involved physical violence.”
Hackers are no longer stopping online thefts, some are showing up at people’s homes, leading to real-world danger.
Real Cases That Show Crypto Crime Is Getting Physical
In January, David Balland, the co-founder of Ledger, was kidnapped in France. His attackers even cut off his finger and sent a video to demand ransom.
Another disturbing case in May involved the father of a crypto entrepreneur, who was also kidnapped and physically attacked. Thankfully, authorities managed to intervene in time.
Why Are Crypto Crimes Rising in 2025?
There are a few key reasons, according to Eric Jardine, cybercrime lead at Chainalysis:
- Crypto ownership is growing making more people potential targets
- Token prices are increasing making wallets more attractive to criminals
- Central platforms are getting better at security so attackers are turning to individuals
Jardine explains,
“If services become better at security, malicious actors will potentially move to targeting individual wallet holders,”
What’s also contributing is how much people are revealing online. Public bragging, flexing crypto wins, or showing luxury lifestyles linked to crypto can attract unwanted attention.
“Showy displays of wealth can quite obviously attract the attention of a bad actor when compared to a more modest outward-facing lifestyle,” Jardine added.
What Can You Do to Stay Safe?
If you’re involved in crypto in 2025, here’s how you can protect yourself:
- Use cold wallets for storage (offline, secure)
- Don’t reveal portfolio details on social media
- Turn on two-factor authentication
- Be cautious of random messages and phishing emails
- Never share seed phrases or login credentials
Our Take
The idea behind cryptocurrency is freedom, financial control, privacy, and decentralization. But as adoption grows, so does risk. What we’re seeing in 2025 is a shift: from digital-only scams to real-world attacks. And that’s worrying.
In our view, the crypto space needs to grow fast. That includes educating users on self-protection, improving wallet security design, and encouraging a more private digital presence. Flashy crypto gains may be fun to share online, but they could come at a high cost. At the end of the day, it’s not just about securing your coins it’s about protecting yourself.
Stay smart, stay low-key, and remember: crypto may be decentralized, but your safety is personal.
