• DeFi protocols experienced the most losses in 2022, with over $1.5 billion stolen in the top five crypto heists.
• These five heists involved cross-chain hacks, flash loan attacks, and protocol exploitation.
• This year has raised significant concerns about the security of DeFi protocols and the industry’s stability.
In 2022, the cryptocurrency industry faced numerous challenges, including several companies filing for bankruptcy and over $3 billion being stolen from crypto projects. According to Forbes, the five biggest crypto heists of the year, all involving decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, accounted for $1.48 billion of the total amount stolen.
The most significant of these heists includes a cross-chain hack of the decentralized exchange (DEX) Uniswap, which resulted in the theft of over $37 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) and Tether (USDT). The attackers exploited a flaw in the DEX’s smart contract code, allowing them to siphon funds from the exchange and transfer them to their own wallets.
Another notable heist involved the exploitation of a bug in the decentralized lending platform Akropolis. Attackers were able to steal over $1 million worth of cryptocurrency by exploiting the platform’s smart contract code. Similarly, the decentralized exchange dForce was also targeted with a flash loan attack, resulting in the theft of over $25 million worth of cryptocurrency.
The fourth-largest crypto theft of 2022 was the exploitation of a vulnerability in the decentralized exchange Synthetix. Attackers managed to steal over $14 million worth of cryptocurrency by exploiting a flaw in the platform’s smart contract. Lastly, the fifth-largest heist of the year was a cross-chain attack on the popular DeFi protocol Yearn Finance, resulting in the theft of over $11 million in Ethereum (ETH).
These five heists have caused significant concern in the industry and raised questions about the security of DeFi protocols. Although these protocols provide users with a more secure and transparent way to access financial services, they are still vulnerable to attack. This year has highlighted the need for better security measures to protect users’ funds and the industry’s stability.