Key Takeaways
- In 2023, crypto hack losses decreased by 51% to $1.8 billion, compared to $3.7 billion in 2022.
- Private key compromises were the costliest attack type, and Ethereum recorded the highest losses among blockchains.
- The decline in losses is seen as a positive sign of improving security measures in the blockchain sector.
The cryptocurrency industry experienced a notable decrease in hack-related losses in 2023 with a total number amounting to just over $1.8 billion from 751 security incidents.
This represents a 51% reduction compared to the $3.7 billion lost in 2022 as revealed in the “Hack3d: The Web3 Security Report 2023” by blockchain security firm CertiK.
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CertiK’s annual report, released on January 3rd, provides an in-depth analysis of the state of security in the Web3 space over the past year.
A key finding of the report was the third quarter of 2023, which saw the highest losses totaling over $686 million. The report also pointed out that incidents involving private key compromises were particularly costly resulting in losses of over $880 million across 47 incidents.
When analyzing losses by blockchain, Ethereum topped the list with $686 million lost in 224 incidents averaging $3 million per incident. BNB Chain, despite having a higher number of incidents at 387, reported significantly lower total losses of $134 million.
The report also highlighted the challenges of cross-chain interoperability which contributed to nearly $800 million in losses due to breaches across multiple blockchains.
Ronghui Gu, CertiK’s co-founder, calls the reduction in losses a “positive development” for blockchain security. He attributed this improvement to the increasing adoption of proactive security measures such as bug bounty platforms, and expressed optimism for a continued downward trend in losses into 2024.
Additionally, Gu noted that the decline in losses could be partly due to the broader bear market which saw a decrease in token and treasury valuations. He believes that sustained low loss levels during a bull market would further confirm that the Web3 industry is effectively learning and implementing security lessons.
The 2023 CertiK report reveals a promising decline in crypto hack losses, indicating significant advancements in blockchain security and a maturing industry poised for increased resilience against cyber threats.
Gile is a Market Sentiment Analyst who understands what public events may form what emotions. Her experience researching Web3 news and public market messages – including cryptocurrency news reports, PRs, and social network streams – is critical to her role in helping lead the Crypto News Editorial Team.
As an intelligent professional in public relations, together with the team, she aims to determine real VS fake news patterns, and bring her findings to anyone searching for unbiased news and events happening in the FinTech markets. Her expertise is uncovering the latest trustworthy & informative Web3 announcements to the masses.
When she’s not researching the trustworthiness of mainstream stories, she spends time enjoying her terrace view and taking meticulous care of her outdoor environment.
