WhiteBIT Identifies Social Engineering as Leading Crypto Threat in 2024

According to WhiteBIT, social engineering scams continue to dominate crypto security incidents, underscoring the need for both technical and behavioral defenses against evolving threats.

Summary

WhiteBIT’s 2025 data shows social engineering scams, including fake investment offers and impersonation, account for 40.8% of crypto security incidents, making them the most common threat. Technical wallet hacks—via phishing, malware, or keyloggers—follow at 33.7%, while messaging platform fraud, notably Telegram-based scrolling scams, comprises over 10%. Certik reported $2.5 billion in losses in the first half of 2025, with Chainalysis highlighting the $1.5 billion Bybit hack as the largest in crypto history. WhiteBIT stressed proactive security measures, including cold wallet storage, audits, web application firewalls, and cybersecurity certifications, alongside vigilant user practices.

Terms & Concepts
  • Social Engineering: A manipulation technique that exploits human error to gain access to private information, often used in phishing and scam schemes.
  • Technical Wallet Attacks: Cyberattacks aimed at exploiting vulnerabilities in cryptocurrency wallets to steal digital assets.
  • Telegram Scrolling Scam: A fraud method conducted via Telegram where scammers trick users through fake transactions or malicious links.