Dossier
private key compromises
Coverage of private key compromises in the Nexus archive.
- $17 billion stolen from crypto in 10 years — and the biggest threat might surprise you
Cumulative crypto losses have exceeded $17 billion across 518 incidents since 2016, with private key compromises causing $3.6 billion in thefts. 2025 was the worst year with $4.04 billion stolen, and the 2026 Kelp DAO rsETH bridge hack ($290-292M) highlights escalating risks as DeFi grows.
- Crypto hackers stole $17B over past 10 years: DefiLlama
Crypto hackers stole $17 billion over the past decade, with private key compromises being a primary cause. Recent DeFi exploits indicate attackers are increasingly targeting vulnerabilities beyond smart contract bugs.