Hacking attacks and exploits stole half as many digital assets in the second quarter of 2023 as in the same period last year. The amount of losses is estimated at ~$314 million.
According to data from CertiK’s Web3 space security quarterly report, there were 212 security breaches of various blockchain projects between April and June 2023, which resulted in hackers stealing $313,566,528 in cryptocurrency.
Compared to the second quarter of 2022, when hackers managed to steal more than $745 million in three months, the success rate of hacking attacks this year has decreased by 58%. However, despite the decline in overall losses, the attackers seem to have changed tactics.
Analysts at CertiK, recorded a two-fold increase in losses from exit scams. Thus, about $70 million was stolen due to this type of fraud in the second quarter of 2023, while in the first quarter of this year, the amount of losses from exit scams was estimated at only $31 million.
At the same time, the number of flash loan and oracle manipulation exploits also increased. In the second quarter of 2023, 54 attacks of this type were recorded, which resulted in a loss of $ 23 million. Despite the growth in such attacks, their success rate was relatively low. Thus, compared to the first quarter of the year, the amount of money hackers seized through attacks with instant loans and exploitation of oracles decreased by 89%.
CertiK analysts also identified the most vulnerable blockchain networks. For example, about 78% of the attacks were recorded on BNB Chain. In total, hackers attacked the network 119 times, taking out $70,711,385. Projects on the Ethereum blockchain network accounted for only about a quarter of the attacks in the second quarter: 55 incidents. In total, the network lost $65,999,953 due to the actions of hackers.
In the first half of 2023, hackers managed to steal $656 million in cryptocurrency, of which 45.5% were recovered.
