The year 2024 witnessed major hacking attacks in the cryptocurrency industry. Cybercriminals stole millions of dollars from centralized exchanges and DeFi platforms using sophisticated methods. These events once again revealed the security vulnerabilities in the sector.
DMM Bitcoin Hack: $308 Million Loss
Japan-based DMM Bitcoin in May $96,653.7suffered a major hacking attack. Attackers stole 4,500 BTC from the exchange. The value of the stolen amount exceeded 300 million dollars. According to investigations, hackers affiliated with North Korea carried out this attack by seizing private keys. After the attack, the company stopped its operations by moving user accounts to another platform.
PlayDapp Hacked Twice: $290 Million Stolen
In early 2024, PlayDapp was hacked twice by cybercriminals. A vulnerability was found in the key management of the DeFi and gaming platform. Hackers stole $290 million worth of PLA tokens using this vulnerability. The attackers rejected a $1 million reward offered to return the stolen funds. Although PlayDapp officials made many attempts to track the funds, they were unable to recover the lost tokens.
WazirX Attack: $235 Million Loss
In June, WazirX, one of India’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, became the target of hackers linked to North Korea. Hackers stole a total of $235 million from the stock market. Following the attack, the exchange was forced to halt all withdrawals. WazirX’s parent company, Zettai Pte Ltd, has suspended operations to improve the financial situation. The exchange transferred some of the stolen funds to other exchanges. However, users are still waiting for a solution to this issue.
Ripple Founder Chris Larsen’s Accounts Were Stolen
Ripple in January 2024 
$2.2Chris Larsen, one of the co-founders of , announced that his XRP accounts were hacked. Hackers stole 213 million XRP, and the value of this amount at that time was 112.5 million dollars. Larsen pointed out the importance of personal security and stated that the stolen funds have still not been found. Although the Ripple company was not directly targeted, it was emphasized that executives continue to be high-profile targets.
Orbit Chain Attack: $80 Million Stolen
In early 2024, Orbit Chain suffered a major hacking attack. DeFi project, Ethereum 
$3,417.6 and lost a total of $80 million from DAI. Stolen funds were flushed with privacy tools like Tornado Cash. The Orbit Chain team made a public apology after the incident. However, the information provided was limited and it remains unclear whether the lost funds can be found.
These events once again revealed the security vulnerability in the cryptocurrency industry. The fact that cybercriminals use more advanced methods forces all stakeholders in the industry to be more careful.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that crypto currencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should carry out their transactions in line with their own research.
