The cryptocurrency and non-fungible token (NFT) heists
have flourished, leaving investors grappling with losses that have surpassed a
staggering USD $26 billion to date. While existing trackers focus on crypto and
NFT heists, a new frontier has emerged: one that encompasses insider jobs,
Ponzi schemes, and intricate scams.
According to the data
recently released by Comparitech, the influx of stolen funds dwindled in 2023,
signaling a potential reduction in cybercriminal activities. Despite this, the
cumulative sum of stolen funds continues to rise. However, it is lower compared
to 2022, which witnessed an unprecedented wave of crypto heists, with hackers
pocketing over USD $3.5 billion in ill-gotten gains.
Besides that, the number
of reported scams and rug pulls has skyrocketed over the years. From a mere ten incidents reported in 2017, the number jumped to 364 in 2022 and currently stands at 162 for 2023. Although the value dropped from USD $4.3 billion to USD $1.2 billion
in this period, it peaked in 2021 at a staggering USD $8.4 billion.
However, the amount of
losses has steadily declined in 2023. According to a report by Finance Magnates, the amount lost to crypto hacks and exploits in the second quarter declined
to USD $313 million. This
compares to USD $715 million lost during the same period of the previous year.
While the overall
landscape is showing signs of improvement, one concerning trend is emerging:
the surge in exit scams. According to a report by Certik, these scams,
characterized by individuals or entities launching crypto projects,
accumulating value, and then vanishing, doubled in impact during the second
quarter of the year.
Additionally, by
breaking down the data, it becomes evident that certain blockchain
