Key takeaways:
In the first half of 2025, over $2.4 billion was stolen, exceeding the total for all of 2024.
Common traps like phishing, fraudulent approvals, and fake support accounts inflict more harm than advanced exploits.
Implementing strong two-factor authentication, scrutinizing approvals, segregating hot and cold wallets, and using secure devices significantly lowers risk.
Having a recovery strategy — with revocation tools, reliable contacts, and reporting systems — converts a mistake into a manageable setback rather than a catastrophe.
Crypto hacks continue to increase. Security firms noted over $2.4 billion stolen across more than 300 incidents in the first half of 2025 alone, surpassing the total thefts of 2024.
A significant incident, the Bybit breach linked to North Korean groups, inflated the statistics, but it shouldn’t overshadow other threats.
Most losses arise from simple traps: phishing links, malware-ridden wallet approvals, SIM-swaps, and fake customer support accounts.
Fortunately, you don’t need to be a cybersecurity expert to enhance your safety. A few essential habits (set up in a few minutes) can significantly reduce your risk.
Here are seven crucial ones for 2025.
1. Ditch SMS: Use phishing-resistant 2FA everywhere
If you still depend on SMS codes for account security, you’re exposing yourself.
SIM-swap attacks remain a prevalent method for criminals to drain wallets, and millions tied to these attacks continue to be seized by authorities.
Opt for phishing-resistant two-factor authentication (2FA) options like hardware security keys or platform passkeys.
Focus on securing your most vital logins: email, exchanges, and password manager.
US cybersecurity agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, emphasize this since it mitigates phishing tactics and “push-fatigue” scams that bypass weaker forms of multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Combine it with long, unique passphrases (prioritize length over complexity), store backup codes offline and on exchanges, and activate withdrawal allowlists so that funds can only transfer to addresses you control.
Did you know? Phishing attacks targeting crypto users surged by 40% in the first half of 2025, notably driven by fake exchange websites.
2. Signing hygiene: Stop drainers and toxic approvals
Most individuals do not lose funds due to sophisticated exploits; rather, they lose them due to a single erroneous signature.
Wallet drainers deceive you into granting unlimited permissions or approving misleading transactions. Once you sign, they can repeatedly deplete your funds without additional consent.
The most effective defense is to take your time: Scrutinize every signature request carefully, especially for terms like “setApprovalForAll,” “Permit/Permit2,” or any unlimited “approve.”
If you’re trying out new decentralized applications (DApps), employ a burner wallet for mints or risky interactions, keeping your primary assets in a separate vault. Periodically revoke unused approvals with tools like Revoke.cash — it’s straightforward and worth the minimal gas fee.
Researchers have already recorded a notable increase in thefts driven by drainers, particularly on mobile devices. Good signing practices can disrupt that cycle before it begins.
3. Hot vs. cold: Split your spending from your savings
Consider wallets akin to bank accounts.
A hot wallet is like your checking account — suitable for daily transactions and app interactions.
A hardware or multisignature wallet acts as your vault — optimized for long-term, secure storage.
Keeping your private keys offline drastically reduces exposure to malware and harmful sites.
For long-term savings, document your seed phrase on paper or metal: Never store it on a smartphone, computer, or cloud service.
Test your recovery procedure with a small restore before moving significant sums. If you feel comfortable with increased security, consider adding a BIP-39 passphrase, but be aware that losing it results in permanent access loss.
For larger amounts or shared treasures, multisig wallets require signatures from two or three distinct devices before any transaction is approved, complicating theft or unauthorized access.
Did you know? In 2024, private key compromises constituted 43.8% of all stolen crypto funds.
4. Device and browser hygiene
Your device configuration is as crucial as your wallet.
Updates rectify the very vulnerabilities attackers exploit, so enable automatic updates for your operating system, browser, and wallet apps, and reboot when necessary.
Limit browser extensions — many significant thefts stemmed from compromised or malicious add-ons. Using a designated browser or profile exclusively for crypto activities helps prevent cookies, sessions, and logins from bleeding into routine browsing.
Hardware wallet users should by default disable blind signing: It conceals transaction details and increases your vulnerability if misled.
Whenever possible, conduct sensitive actions on a clean desktop instead of a mobile device loaded with applications. Aim for a streamlined, updated setup with as few potential attack surfaces as feasible.
5. Verify before you send: Addresses, chains, contracts
The simplest way to lose crypto is by sending it to the incorrect destination. Always verify both the recipient address and the network before clicking “send.”
For first-time transfers, make a small test transaction (the additional fee is worth the assurance). When dealing with tokens or non-fungible tokens (NFTs), confirm you have the correct contract by consulting the project’s official site, reputable aggregators like CoinGecko, and explorers such as Etherscan.
Look for verified code or ownership badges before interacting with any contract. Avoid typing a wallet address manually — always copy and paste it, verifying the first and last characters to prevent clipboard switches. Be cautious against copying addresses directly from your transaction history, as dusting attacks or spoofed entries might trick you into reusing a compromised address.
Exercise extra caution with “airdrop claim” sites, especially those demanding unusual approvals or cross-chain actions. If something appears suspicious, halt and verify the link through official project channels. Should you have already granted dubious approvals, revoke them immediately before continuing.
6. Social engineering defense: Romance, “tasks,” impersonation
Major crypto scams seldom rely on intricate coding — they depend on human interactions.
Romance and pig-butchering schemes fabricate false relationships and utilize counterfeit trading dashboards to exhibit fake profits, then coerce victims into depositing more or paying fictitious “release fees.”
Job scams typically start with amicable messages on WhatsApp or Telegram, proposing small tasks and payouts before evolving into deposit schemes. Impersonators posing as “support staff” may attempt screen-sharing or trick you into disclosing your seed phrase.
The giveaway is always the same: Authentic support will never request your private keys, send you to a lookalike site, or ask for payment via Bitcoin ATMs or gift cards. As soon as you detect these red flags, sever contact immediately.
Did you know? The number of deposits into pig butchering scams rose by about 210% year-over-year in 2024, despite the average deposit amount decreasing.
7. Recovery readiness: Make mistakes survivable
Even the most vigilant can make errors. The distinction between a catastrophe and a recovery lies in preparation.
Maintain a short offline “break-glass” card with your key recovery resources: verified exchange support links, trusted revocation tools, and official reporting platforms like the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
If something goes awry, gather details like transaction hashes, wallet addresses, amounts, timestamps, and screenshots for your report. Investigators often link multiple cases through these shared details.
You may not retrieve your funds immediately, but having a plan transforms a total loss into a manageable mistake.
If the worst happens: What to do next
If you’ve accessed a malicious link or mistakenly sent funds, act quickly. Transfer any remaining assets to a new wallet you control, then revoke old permissions with trusted tools like Etherscan’s Token Approval Checker or Revoke.cash.
Change your passwords, transition to phishing-resistant 2FA, log out of all other sessions, and review your email settings for any forwarding or filtering rules you didn’t set up.
Then escalate the situation: Notify your exchange to flag the affected addresses and file a report with IC3 or your local authority. Include transaction hashes, wallet addresses, timestamps, and screenshots; these specifics assist investigators in connecting cases, even if recovery is prolonged.
The overarching message is straightforward: Seven practices (strong MFA, careful signing, separating hot and cold wallets, maintaining clean devices, verifying before sending, vigilance against social engineering, and having a recovery plan) eliminate most everyday crypto threats.
Begin modestly: Enhance your 2FA and refine your signing hygiene today, then expand from there. A little foresight now can save you from significant losses later in 2025.
This article does not provide investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading decision carries risks, and readers should undertake their own research before acting.
