[TRM Labs: Cryptocurrency thefts will approach $140 million in the first half of 2024]

Cybercrime in the cryptocurrency industry rose sharply in the first half of 2024, with hackers stealing nearly $1.38 billion, nearly double the figure for the same period last year. Cybercriminals stole a staggering $1.38 billion from crypto investors in the first half of 2024, nearly double the $657 million stolen during the same period in 2023, according to blockchain forensics firm TRM Labs.

In line with trends in 2023, a few major breaches dominated these thefts this year, with analysts saying the top five incidents accounted for 70% of total thefts. The most significant attack so far occurred in May, when Japanese crypto exchange DMM Bitcoin was hacked and more than 4,500 Bitcoins, worth over $300 million at the time, were lost.

TRM Labs lists “stolen private keys or address poisoning” as possible attack vectors. “Leaks of private keys and seed phrases will remain the main attack vectors in 2024, along with smart contract vulnerabilities and flash loan attacks,” analysts said.

The number of thefts in each month of the first half of 2024 was higher than the same period in 2023, and "the median hacker attack was 150% larger." Despite the surge in thefts, analysts say thefts from hackers and exploits are still a third lower than the record-breaking same period in 2022.

Meanwhile, data from Scam Sniffer shows that phishing scammers have made more than $300 million on the EVM chain by targeting approximately 260,000 victims, a growth of 6.44% compared to 2023. According to researchers, approximately $58 million in cryptocurrency was stolen from 20 victims, with one victim losing $11 million, becoming the second largest theft victim in cryptocurrency history.

The data shows the extent of cybercrime in the cryptocurrency market in the first half of 2024. Whether it is the security vulnerability of the exchange or the leakage of personal private keys, it brings huge risks to investors. As the market develops, it will become even more important to strengthen security measures and increase user alertness.

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