Particle.news
Download on the App Store

December Crypto Exploit Losses Drop 60% to $76 Million, Concentrated in a Few Big Scams

Prosecutors also moved against a major phishing suspect, signaling heightened pressure on social‑engineering schemes.

Overview

  • PeckShield tallied roughly $76 million lost across about 26 major exploits in December, down sharply from November.
  • The largest hit was a $50 million address‑poisoning theft that tricked a user into sending funds to a lookalike wallet.
  • A leaked private key tied to a multi‑signature wallet led to about $27.3 million in losses, exposing custodial weaknesses.
  • Browser wallets remained exposed, with a Trust Wallet browser‑extension exploit causing roughly $7 million in losses.
  • U.S. authorities charged Brooklyn resident Ronald Spektor over a $16 million phishing scheme, as Scam Sniffer reported 2025 wallet‑drainer phishing losses fell to $83.85 million, an 83% year‑over‑year decline.