2024: A Bumper Year for Crypto Hackers – Centralized Services and Private Keys at Risk
By CryptoNinjas
Key Takeaways:
- Cyberattacks targeting cryptocurrencies surged in 2024, with losses totaling $2.2 billion.
- Centralized financial services (CeFi) and weak private key management became easy targets for hackers.
Introduction: 2024 – A Year of Turbulence for the Crypto Market
This past year was a rollercoaster for the crypto world. Sure, the market saw some impressive growth, but it was also hit hard by a surge in cyberattacks. Cybersecurity firms report that scams, hacks, and vulnerabilities caused damages of $2.2 billion across 303 incidents—a 21% jump compared to 2023. What’s really worrying? Centralized financial services and poorly managed private keys were the top targets for attackers.
The Numbers Speak: A Lucrative Year for Hackers
In just the first seven months, hackers stole $1.58 billion in cryptocurrency, representing 72% of the year’s total losses, highlighting the escalating cyber threats.
Year Number of Attacks Total Losses 2023 282 Data Unavailable 2024 303 $2.2 BillionCeFi Platforms in the Spotlight: A Surge in Attacks
Massive Growth in CeFi Breaches
CeFi platforms saw an explosive 1,000% increase in attacks in 2024. Major cryptocurrency exchanges became lucrative targets, leading to substantial financial losses and eroding investor trust in centralized platforms.
High-Profile Cases
Exchange Country Incident Date Details Loss WazirX India July 2024 Hacked $235 million DMM Exchange Japan May 2024 Private key breach; one of the largest in history $305 million PlayDapp South Korea February 2024 Private key leak $290 million Hedgey Finance – Various Hacked $44 million BtcTurk – Various Hacked $55 million BingX – Various Hacked $52 million 
DMM Exchange was hacked in May 2024
Private Keys: The Weakest Link
The Gateway to Losses
Private key-related breaches were responsible for 43.8% of all losses in 2024. The $305 million DMM hack stands as a glaring example of how mismanagement of private keys can result in massive losses.
Key Insight
Protecting private keys isn’t just the job of exchanges; every user has a role to play.
AI-Powered Cyberattacks: A Rising Threat
AI’s Role in Hacking
Artificial intelligence has empowered hackers, enabling them to carry out highly sophisticated and difficult-to-detect attacks, such as:
- Phishing Scams
- Deepfake Chaos
- Crypto Crime-as-a-Service (CaaS)
Lessons Learned from 2024 – What’s Coming in 2025
Key Takeaways from 2024 What’s Coming in 2025 Use MFA: A must for everyone. AI Attacks: Smarter phishing, deepfakes. Watch for scams: Stay alert. Supply Chain Hacks: Targeting vendors. Cold Storage: Offline wallets are safest. IoT Risks: Smart devices as weak spots. Self-Custody: Manage your keys. Cloud/API Threats: Exploiting gaps. Quantum Computing: Encryption at risk.More News: The Quantum Computing Threat for Satoshi Nakamoto’s 1 Million Bitcoins
