Cryptocurrency and crime

Cryptocurrency and crime describes notable examples of cybercrime related to theft (or the otherwise illegal acquisition) of cryptocurrencies and some of the methods or security vulnerabilities commonly exploited. Cryptojacking is a form of cybercrime specific to cryptocurrencies that has been used on websites to hijack a victim's resources and use them for hashing and mining cryptocurrencies. According to blockchain analysis company Chainalysis, .15% of known cryptocurrency transactions conducted in 2021 were involved in illicit activities like cybercrime, money laundering and terrorism financing, representing a total of $14 billion. There are various types of cryptocurrency wallets available, with different layers of security, including devices, software for different operating systems or browsers, and offline wallets. Novel exploits unique to blockchain transactions exist which aim to create unintended outcomes for those on the other end of a transaction. One of the more well known issues that opens the possibility for exploits on Bitcoin is the transaction malleability problem. The Immunefi Crypto Losses 2022 Report lists industry losses from frauds and hacking as a combined total of for the year, and at for 2021. In 2018, around US$1.7 billion in cryptocurrency was lost to scams, theft and fraud. In the first quarter of 2019, the amount of such losses rose to US$1.2 billion. 2022 was a record year for cryptocurrency theft, according to Chainalysis, with stolen worldwide during 125 system hacks, including stolen by "North Korea-linked hackers". Notable cryptocurrency exchange compromises resulting in the loss of cryptocurrencies include: Between 2011 and 2014, worth of bitcoin were stolen from Mt. Gox. In 2016, were stolen through exploiting Bitfinex's exchange wallet, users were refunded. On December 7, 2017, Slovenian cryptocurrency exchange NiceHash reported that hackers had stolen over$70 million using a hijacked company computer. On December 19, 2017, Yapian, the owner of South Korean exchange Youbit, filed for bankruptcy after suffering two hacks that year.