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Tom’s Hardware
Tom’s Hardware
Technology
Aaron Klotz

Report estimates $17 billion worth of bitcoin was stolen in 2025 alone —massive haul arises from impersonation tactics and the use of AI for scams

Crypto Hacker.

2025 represented the largest increase in revenue generated by crypto scams to date with an estimated $17 billion stolen that year alone, Chainalysis reports. The rise of AI-generated deepfakes, phishing, AI-assisted pig butchering, impersonation (including governmental impersonation) and more have all contributed to 2025 being the biggest year for crypto scammers worldwide.

Chainanalysis recorded a 253% YoY increase in average payments from crypto scammers. An average payment in 2024 was worth $782, but in 2025, an average payment is worth $2,764.

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