As April comes to an end, the cryptocurrency industry witnessed a significant decrease in combined losses from hacks and scams, marking the lowest recorded figure in recent times. According to security firm CertiK, only around $25.7 million was lost to exploits, hacks, and scams throughout the month. This data represents a substantial 141% decrease from the previous month’s total losses.
Breaking down the numbers further, CertiK reported that the majority of the losses, approximately $21 million, were attributed to exploits. Interestingly, only three breaches exceeded $1 million in damages. Flash loan attacks accounted for $129,000 in losses, with the largest incident causing $55,000 in damages. This marked a significant decrease in flash loan attacks compared to previous months. Exit scams were responsible for $4.3 million in losses, showcasing a decline in such fraudulent activities.
Despite the overall positive trend of decreasing losses, several major hacks and scams still took place in April, resulting in substantial financial losses. For example, the memecoin CondomSol fell victim to an exploit on the Solana network, causing approximately $933,000 in losses for users. Another significant incident was the attack on the FixedFloat project, which suffered its second breach by the same attackers who compromised the project in February 2024.
Shortly after CertiK’s report was released, the decentralized finance app Yield Protocol experienced an exploit, resulting in $181,000 in losses. Despite the developer’s official closure of Yield Protocol, some users were still able to interact with its smart contracts due to their immutable nature. This incident highlights the ongoing vulnerabilities in the DeFi space.
Looking at broader trends in the cryptocurrency industry, data from Immunefi revealed that in the first quarter of 2024, the industry lost approximately $336 million to hacks and fraud. While this figure is still significant, it represents a substantial decrease compared to previous years. In 2023, hackers stole an estimated $1.8 billion, which was significantly lower than the $4 billion recorded in 2022.
Data from DefiLlama shows that as of April 1, total losses from cryptocurrency hacks surpassed $7.7 billion. Despite a 23% decline in incidents during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the previous year, Defi protocols continue to bear the brunt of these losses. Over the past seven years, hackers have siphoned off $5.8 billion from Defi platforms, highlighting the vulnerabilities in this sector.
Overall, while the decrease in crypto-related hacks and scams in April 2024 is a positive development, it is essential for the industry to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing these security threats. Education, awareness, and robust security measures are crucial in safeguarding investors and mitigating financial losses in the ever-evolving landscape of cryptocurrencies.
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