Crypto Hacks Surge: $3B Laundered Faster Than Ever.
Over $3.01 billion was stolen in 119 crypto hacks in the first half of 2025, exceeding the total for all of 2024. Attackers are laundering stolen funds faster, often completing the process in minutes, with 23% of cases finishing before public disclosure. Funds were typically moved 15 hours post-breach, giving hackers a 20-hour head start. Only 4.2% of stolen funds were recovered during this period. Centralized exchanges (CEXs) accounted for 54.26% of losses, with 15.1% of laundered crypto passing through them. Compliance teams have limited time to block suspicious transactions, necessitating real-time monitoring systems. New legislation, including the Genius Act, imposes stricter AML requirements on exchanges. The trial of Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm raises questions about developer accountability in preventing illicit activity, with potential implications for open-source development and privacy tools.
