Essential Insights:
In the first half of 2025, over $2.4 billion was stolen, already exceeding the total thefts of 2024.
Common threats like phishing, malicious approvals, and fake support cause more harm than advanced exploits.
Implementing strong 2FA, cautious signing practices, wallet separation, and using clean devices significantly mitigates risk.
A solid recovery plan — including revocation tools, support contacts, and reporting sites — can transform a mistake into a mere setback.
Crypto hacks are escalating. Security firms documented over $2.4 billion stolen in more than 300 incidents in the first half of 2025, surpassing total thefts from 2024.
A major incident, the Bybit heist linked to North Korean groups, inflated the statistics, but it shouldn’t overshadow the broader issue.
Most daily losses stem from simple traps: phishing links, malicious wallet approvals, SIM swaps, and bogus support accounts.
The positive news: You don’t need to be a cybersecurity pro to enhance your safety. A few basic habits (which can be set up within minutes) can dramatically decrease your risk.
Here are seven key practices for 2025.
1. Eliminate SMS: Implement phishing-resistant 2FA everywhere
If you’re still using SMS codes to secure your accounts, you’re leaving yourself vulnerable.
SIM-swap attacks remain a widespread method for criminals to access wallets, with prosecutors seizing millions linked to them.
A safer alternative is to adopt phishing-resistant two-factor authentication (2FA), such as hardware security keys or platform passkeys.
Begin by securing your most vital logins: email, exchanges, and your password manager.
US cybersecurity agencies, like the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, advocate for this practice as it blocks phishing schemes and “push-fatigue” scams that bypass weaker multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods.
Combine it with long, unique passphrases (length is more important than complexity), store backup codes offline, and utilize withdrawal allowlists to restrict fund transfers to your controlled addresses.
Did you know? Phishing attacks targeting crypto users surged by 40% in the first half of 2025, primarily from fake exchange sites.
2. Signature hygiene: Prevent drainers and harmful approvals
Most individuals don’t lose funds to cutting-edge exploits; they lose them to a single careless signature.
Wallet drainers deceive you into granting unlimited permissions or approving misleading transactions. Once you sign, they can continuously drain your funds without further consent.
The best defense is to proceed with caution: Read every signature request thoroughly, especially if you encounter “setApprovalForAll,” “Permit/Permit2,” or an unlimited “approve.”
If you’re exploring new decentralized applications (DApps), utilize a burner wallet for minting or high-risk interactions while keeping your main assets in a secure vault. Regularly revoke unused approvals using simple tools like Revoke.cash — it’s straightforward and worth the small gas fee.
Researchers have noted a significant uptick in thefts driven by drainers, particularly on mobile. Adopting good signing practices can halt that trend.
3. Hot versus cold: Distinguish between spending and savings
Consider wallets like bank accounts.
A hot wallet acts as your checking account — suitable for spending and interacting with applications.
A hardware or multisignature wallet serves as your vault — designed for secure, long-term storage.
Keeping your private keys offline minimizes exposure to malware and harmful websites.
For long-term savings, write down your seed phrase on paper or steel: Never store it digitally.
Test your recovery method with a small restore before moving significant funds. If you are comfortable with added security, consider a BIP-39 passphrase, but be aware that losing it means losing access forever.
For larger sums or shared funds, multisignature wallets demand signatures from two or three different devices before approving any transaction, making theft or unauthorized access much harder.
Did you know? In 2024, compromises of private keys accounted for 43.8% of all stolen crypto funds.
4. Maintaining device and browser hygiene
Your device setup is equally as crucial as your wallet.
Keeping your software updated closes the vulnerabilities attackers exploit, so enable automatic updates for your operating system, browser, and wallet applications, and reboot when necessary.
Limit browser extensions; several high-profile thefts have resulted from hijacked or malicious add-ons. Using a dedicated browser or profile exclusively for crypto helps avoid leaks of cookies, sessions, and logins from your regular browsing.
Users of hardware wallets should disable blind signing by default: It conceals transaction details and puts you at unnecessary risk if you’re misled.
Whenever possible, perform sensitive actions on a clean desktop rather than a phone loaded with apps. Aim for a minimal, updated setup with the fewest vulnerabilities possible.
5. Confirm before sending: Addresses, networks, contracts
The simplest way to lose cryptocurrency is by sending it to the wrong address. Always verify both the recipient address and the network before you click “send.”
For first-time transactions, undertake a small test payment (the extra fee is worth the assurance). When dealing with tokens or NFTs, confirm you have the accurate contract by consulting the project’s official website, trustworthy aggregators like CoinGecko, and explorers such as Etherscan.
Look for verified code or ownership indicators before engaging with any contract. Avoid entering a wallet address manually — always copy and paste, and check the first and last characters to prevent clipboard swaps. Avoid copying addresses directly from your transaction history, as dusting attacks or spoofed entries can trick you into using a compromised address.
Be extremely careful with “airdrop claim” sites, especially those asking for unusual approvals or cross-chain actions. If something appears suspicious, take a moment to verify the link through official project channels. And if you have already granted questionable approvals, revoke them immediately before proceeding.
6. Defending against social engineering: Romance, “tasks,” impersonation
The most significant crypto scams typically rely on exploiting human behavior rather than advanced technology.
Romance and pig-butchering schemes fabricate relationships using counterfeit trading dashboards to display fake profits, pressuring victims to deposit more or pay fictitious “release fees.”
Job scams often start with friendly messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, offering small tasks and rewards before transitioning to deposit schemes. Impersonators masquerading as “support staff” may attempt to screen-share with you or trick you into revealing your seed phrase.
The hallmark is always the same: Genuine support will never ask for your private keys, redirect you to a lookalike site, or solicit payment through Bitcoin ATMs or gift cards. The moment you notice these warning signs, cease contact immediately.
Did you know? The amount deposited into pig butchering scams increased by around 210% year-over-year in 2024, even though the average deposit amount declined.
7. Preparedness for recovery: Ensure mistakes can be managed
Even the most vigilant individuals make errors. The difference between catastrophe and recovery lies in preparation.
Keep a brief offline “break-glass” card containing your key recovery information: verified support links for exchanges, a trusted revocation tool, and official reporting channels like the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
If an issue arises, include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, amounts, timestamps, and screenshots in your report. Investigators often link multiple cases through these shared details.
You may not recover funds immediately, but having a plan in place can transform a total loss into a manageable mistake.
What to do if the worst occurs: Next steps
If you’ve clicked a harmful link or accidentally sent funds, act quickly. Move any remaining assets to a new wallet that you fully control, and revoke old permissions using trusted tools like Etherscan’s Token Approval Checker or Revoke.cash.
Change your passwords, switch to phishing-resistant 2FA, log out of all other sessions, and review your email settings for any unauthorized forwarding or filtering rules.
Then escalate: Contact your exchange to flag the destination addresses and file a report with IC3 or your local regulator. Include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, timestamps, and screenshots; these details assist investigators in connecting related cases, even if it takes time for recovery.
The overarching lesson is clear: Seven habits (implementing strong MFA, practicing careful signing, separating hot and cold wallets, maintaining clean devices, verifying before sending, staying vigilant against social engineering, and having a recovery strategy) prevent most common crypto threats.
Start small: Enhance your 2FA and refine your signing practices today, and then gradually expand from there. A bit of preparation now can safeguard you from significant losses later in 2025.
This article does not provide investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading decision carries risk, and readers should conduct their own research before making any decisions.
