In 2024, cryptocurrency theft cases surged by 21%, with a total of 303 incidents and losses amounting to 2.2 billion dollars. Although early 2024 saw record highs in hacking attacks, activity slowed down in the third and fourth quarters. North Korean hackers accounted for 61% of the total, stealing 1.34 billion dollars in 47 attacks.

⚫ Shift in targets: By mid-2024, centralized services, rather than DeFi platforms, were the primary targets. Notable cases include DMM Bitcoin (305 million dollars) and WazirX (234.9 million dollars).

⚫ Increased North Korean activity: North Korean hackers launched more frequent and higher-value attacks, funding national projects. However, after July, stolen funds decreased by 53%, which may be related to geopolitical changes.

⚫ Major vulnerabilities: Private key leaks accounted for 43.8% of stolen cryptocurrencies, highlighting vulnerabilities in centralized services.

⚫ Evolving money laundering strategies: Hackers turned to using bridges on DEXs.