Beijing: Blockchain security experts say the need for uniform crypto security standards and stronger internal safeguards across the cryptocurrency industry has grown sharply.
According to blockchain intelligence firm Chainalysis, digital assets worth more than $22.3 billion have been stolen in cryptocurrency hacks since 2021. The firm tracked reported hack losses from 2021 through late October 2026.
North Korea Behind Most 2026 Losses
Chainalysis data shows that suspected North Korea-linked hacks accounted for nearly 89 percent of reported crypto hack losses so far in 2026, compared with just 15 percent in 2021.
The firm said the average loss per attack has more than tripled since 2021. Attackers increasingly rely on social engineering, which targets people rather than software, and on moving stolen funds across multiple blockchains to hide the trail.
Record Thefts in Recent Years
Chainalysis earlier reported that more than $3.4 billion in crypto was stolen in 2025 alone. The February 2025 breach of the Bybit exchange, worth around $1.5 billion, remains the largest crypto theft on record.
The firm has identified compromised private keys as the main single point of failure, even at centralised platforms with professional security infrastructure.
Calls for Uniform Standards
Experts say common security benchmarks, stronger key management and tighter internal controls are now essential to protect investors’ digital assets and restore confidence in the sector.