Crypto Hacks Surged to $92.5 Million in April: What Every User Needs to Know About Staying Safe

If you hold cryptocurrency, the latest security report from Immunefi should grab your attention. Published on May 4, 2025, the blockchain security platform’s findings reveal that the crypto industry suffered $92.5 million in losses from hacks across 15 separate incidents in April 2025 alone. This figure represents a 27.3% increase compared to the $72.6 million lost in April 2024, and more than doubled from March 2025’s total of $41.4 million. With Bitcoin trading at $94,316 and Ethereum at $1,809, the stakes for individual holders have never been higher. Understanding what happened — and how to protect yourself — is no longer optional.

The Basics

The Immunefi report breaks down April’s losses into specific incidents. The largest single attack hit UPCX, a blockchain payments platform that lost $70 million. Decentralized exchange KiloEx followed with $7.5 million in losses. Other affected platforms included Loopscale ($5.8 million), ZKsync ($5 million), and Term Labs ($1.5 million). Smaller but still significant losses hit Bitcoin Mission ($1.3 million), The Roar ($790,000), Impermax ($152,200), Zora ($140,800), and ACB ($84,100).

Critically, every single incident in April targeted decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. No centralized exchanges were breached. This distinction matters because it tells you where the vulnerabilities lie: in smart contracts and protocol-level code, not in the custody solutions used by major exchanges. The year-to-date total stands at a staggering $1.74 billion — already surpassing the full-year total of $1.49 billion in 2024, which was previously considered the worst year on record for crypto hacks.

Why It Matters

These numbers are not abstract statistics. The $1.74 billion lost in just the first four months of 2025 represents real money stolen from real users — liquidity providers, stakers, and traders who trusted these protocols with their assets. The Bybit hack alone, which occurred earlier in 2025, accounted for $1.46 billion in losses when attackers exploited a vulnerability in the exchange’s hot wallet infrastructure. Other major incidents included the Infini exploit ($50 million through smart contract manipulation), the zkLend flash loan attack ($9.5 million drained from liquidity pools), and the Ionic breach ($8.5 million via compromised private keys).

For individual users, the implications are clear: even well-audited protocols can harbor vulnerabilities. The fact that Ethereum and BNB Chain accounted for 60% of all April incidents — with Base emerging as a new target with a 20% share — means that the most popular chains are also the most actively exploited.

Getting Started Guide

Protecting yourself starts with understanding where your assets live and how they can be compromised. Here are the essential steps every crypto user should take immediately:

Step 1: Audit your DeFi positions. Check every protocol where you have funds deposited. Look for recent audit reports, bug bounty programs, and the protocol’s track record. If a protocol has not been audited by a reputable security firm, consider withdrawing your funds.

Step 2: Diversify across protocols. Never put all your assets into a single DeFi platform. The April losses show that even protocols with seemingly solid code can be exploited. Spreading your positions across multiple platforms reduces the impact of any single failure.

Step 3: Use hardware wallets for large holdings. Keep the majority of your crypto in cold storage — hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor that are not connected to the internet. Only move funds to hot wallets or DeFi protocols when you need to transact.

Step 4: Monitor protocol governance and updates. Many exploits are preceded by suspicious governance proposals or unusual contract upgrades. Follow the protocols you use on social media and in Discord or Telegram communities to stay informed about any concerning changes.

Step 5: Understand the attack vectors. April’s hacks were 100% exploits — technical vulnerabilities in code — not fraud or social engineering. This means the attackers found bugs in smart contracts and used them to drain funds. The best defense is to only use protocols that have undergone multiple independent audits and maintain active bug bounty programs.

Common Pitfalls

Many users make the mistake of assuming that because a protocol is popular or has been operating for months without issues, it is safe. The Immunefi data proves otherwise. UPCX was a functioning payments platform before losing $70 million. ZKsync is a well-known layer-2 scaling solution that still lost $5 million. Popularity and longevity do not guarantee security.

Another common error is chasing high yields without assessing risk. Protocols offering unusually high returns often take on correspondingly high risk — whether through complex leverage, unaudited code, or experimental mechanisms. If a yield seems too good to be true in the current market environment, it probably is.

Finally, many users neglect to revoke token approvals after interacting with DeFi protocols. Every time you grant a smart contract permission to spend your tokens, that permission remains until you explicitly revoke it. If that contract is later exploited, your tokens can be drained even if you withdrew from the protocol months ago.

Next Steps

The crypto security landscape in 2025 demands active vigilance. Start by reviewing your current DeFi positions through the lens of the Immunefi report. Withdraw from any protocol that lacks recent audits or has shown warning signs. Move your long-term holdings to hardware wallets. Set up alerts for the protocols you continue to use so you can respond quickly if something goes wrong. The $1.74 billion lost so far this year is a stark reminder that in crypto, you are your own bank — which means you are also your own security team.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.