Crypto News- Security Challenges Surge: In 2023, the cryptocurrency market faced a daunting challenge as losses amounted to $1.9 billion, indicating a substantial 93.6% decrease compared to the previous year. While this might initially suggest a positive shift, a deeper investigation reveals a grimmer reality characterized by an escalation in both the frequency and sophistication of cyber attacks, as reported by blockchain security auditor Hacken.
Security Challenges Surge: Cryptocurrency Market Vulnerable to 1.9 Billion Dollars Losses Amidst Sophisticated Attacks in 2023
According to Hacken’s 2023 security report, shared with CryptoPotato, the overall losses due to hacks and scams decreased to $1.9 billion. Notably, the most significant breach involved Multichain, where hackers drained $231 million from its bridge. Although this figure is significantly lower than the cataclysmic Terra Luna incident of 2022, which wiped out over $40 billion in value, Hacken portrayed 2023 as a period of enhanced safety and improved security practices.
However, the report uncovered a concerning 14% increase in the number of attacks compared to the previous year, indicating a surge in various types of cyber threats. Access Control emerged as the most damaging vulnerability, with unauthorized access to hot wallets resulting in half of all stolen funds, averaging $31 million per incident. This encompassed breaches in platforms like Multichain and Atomic Wallet.
Cryptocurrency Security Landscape in 2023: Unveiling Trends, Threats, and Targets Amid a 1.9 Billion Dollars Market Loss
Flash Loan attacks followed closely, with a total stolen amount exceeding $275 million, despite a higher number of incidents compared to Access Control. Rug Pulls, averaging $566,000 per incident, ranked as the second least damaging type of attack, trailing closely behind Honeypot scams.
In terms of impact, 2023 deviated from previous trends where centralized companies collapsed due to bad debt. Lending and Borrowing, particularly within smart contract-based money markets, bore the brunt of the attacks. These platforms, aggregating significant liquidity pools and providing loans against collateral, became prime targets for hackers exploiting flash loans.
Bridges and Centralized Exchanges (CEXs) also suffered substantial losses, given their substantial liquidity pools that attract both external hackers and insider threats. Analysis indicated that BNB Smart Chain (BSC) and Ethereum were primary targets, with BNB Chain reporting 214 incidents, predominantly rug pulls, and Ethereum encountering 176 incidents ranging from classic rug pulls to sophisticated flash loan attacks. Even smaller platforms, such as Arbitrum, faced 30 incidents, often linked to access control issues, underscoring vulnerabilities in emerging networks.
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