Blockchain and Web3 apps are shaking up industries, bringing new levels of openness and decentralization. But as we push boundaries, we face risks: hackers are always looking for weak spots to exploit. In 2024, Chainalysis tells us that hackers stole about $2.2 billion in blockchain-related attacks – that’s 21% more than in 2023. Shady dealings on blockchains have ballooned ($51.3B went through dodgy addresses in 2024), which shows that keeping blockchains safe is now a big deal for businesses. Companies, startups, and go-getters need to use strong blockchain safety tricks and get ahead of threats to keep assets and user trust safe. This deep look examines today’s threat scene, spots common weak points, and lays out tried-and-true plans – from checking smart contracts to using multi-signature wallets – to secure decentralized systems. Throughout, we point out how expert blockchain development partners like Blockchaintechs.io can help teams put these defenses in place.
Blockchains are not invulnerable to attack; rather, the larger the adoption, the greater the incentive for cybercriminals. Chainalysis estimated in 2024 that criminal crypto flows were $40.9 billion (at least) – approximately $51.3B including probable undiscovered funds. The upsurge illustrates how each additional protocol, smart contract, and user contributes to the decentralized network’s attack surface. Even while some types of fraud fell (Chainalysis reported overall scams dropped in early 2024), more advanced threats such as ransomware are on the rebound – one report demonstrated ransom-related crypto thefts rose 62% in 2023. Briefly, new Web3 projects need to take web3 security as seriously as they would traditional IT security. Companies planning to develop or release Web3 products should design security from day one. Top blockchain builders and consultants, like Blockchaintechs.io, highlight a security-first approach: incorporating multi-layer defenses and code audits into the development process. Through this, projects can sidestep the expensive missteps in high-profile exploits.
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Blockchain networks have shown resilience in certain areas – public chains are open-source and heavily scrutinized – but attackers consistently find new ways to crack smart contracts, s teal wallets, or take advantage of operational mistakes. Important trends over recent years highlight why vigilance is important:
1. Surging Hack and Theft Activity: Crypto hacks have reached new heights. Chainalysis statistics (2015–2024) indicate annual peaks in 2021–2022 (~$3.3–3.7B each) and also significant losses in 2024. 2024 alone reported 303 hack events (compared to 282 in 2023) with $2.2B stolen.
2. Although a few of the high-dollar heists (such as some bridge hacks) dwindled later in 2024, the rate of attacks is growing. As an example, the number of hacks increased 303 in 2024 from 282 in 2023, so 2024 became the most hacked year ever. This trend indicates that attackers are becoming progressively bolder and more plentiful.
3. Changing Targets: The targets of the attacked platforms have evolved over time. In 2021–2022, DeFi protocols were the primary target. As of mid-2024, however, centralized exchanges and custodial services came to dominate the losses. Chainalysis points out that hacks on centralized platforms (such as a $305M DMM Bitcoin hack and $234.9M WazirX hack in 2024) propelled much of the year’s theft. The chart below shows stolen funds by platform category (DeFi vs. centralized, etc.) across recent quarters.
4. DeFi Shifts: In early 2024, DeFi remained having the most dominant share, but in mid-2024’s biggest heists, they hit exchanges. Offenders usually tread where wealth accumulates. Centralized services (custodians, exchanges) now control immense user money, so private key exploits there can bring immense spoils
5. Private key compromises: Throughout all hacks in 2024, the most prevalent failure was private key compromise. Approximately 43.8% of crypto stolen was through key or account attacks. This also included situations where developers or operators handled keys improperly, such as in the DMM hack, which is suspected to have been due to poor key security. Halborn’s analysis reaffirms that compromised accounts (most often through stolen private keys) represented 80%+ value lost in 2024 attacks
6. Advanced Techniques: Contending techniques nowadays stretch from the complex to the opportunistic. Smart contract vulnerabilities (e.g., reentrancy flaws or unguarded calls) bleed pools dry, flash loans enable attacks with borrowed capital, and even social engineering or phishing schemes can be used to deceive admins into sending assets. Crypto ransomware-style extortion is also on the scene: attackers often steal coins and later request payment in exchange for their return or desistance from blockchain disruption. In 2023, crypto ransom payments jumped dramatically while other theft declined.
These trends illustrate that threats are complex. Security teams need to think holistically: securing on-chain code isn’t enough; teams need to defend keys, infrastructure, and even user habits. The attack surface includes smart contracts, nodes, wallets, oracles, bridges, and applications.
Since there are so many different types of attacks, it is useful to group the most typical threats. Web3 security specialists recognize a number of categories of vulnerabilities which are often the cause of incidents:
In short, blockchain threat vectors span technical vulnerabilities and operational vulnerabilities. Mitigation involves all these areas by means of a holistic security plan.
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Smart contracts manage on-chain business logic so their bugs often cause direct losses. Here are some main smart contract weaknesses to look out for, based on industry surveys and OWASP’s newest list:
Case Study: Euler Finance, an open lending protocol, lost about $197 million to a hack in March 2023. The attacker borrowed money to change interest rates and steal assets. This shows that even well-known DeFi platforms can have weak spots if they don’t plan for every case. It proves the need for code safeguards (like checks to ensure “liquidity is available”) and multiple signatures for admin tasks.
Smart contract security goes hand in hand with DeFi security. DeFi projects should set limits (like the biggest loan size), use oracles on multiple chains, and add time delays to governance (so the community can react to changes). Always think that public open protocols will face attacks – plan with this in mind.
Smart contracts aren’t the only part of decentralized applications (dApps) that need protection. Web apps mobile apps, and backend services that connect to the blockchain also require safeguarding:
Web3’s decentralized structure means you can’t just install a quick fix from a main server for contracts already out there. Once something goes wrong on the blockchain, you often can’t undo it. That’s why it’s so important to build in solid safeguards (like multi-signature wallets, ways to pause things, and thorough testing) when it comes to keeping decentralized apps secure.
Given these threats, what can projects do to be proactive? The aim is to reduce blockchain security risks through multiple layers of defense. Here are key strategies and best practices:
Multi-signature key management stands out as a strong approach that deserves its own spotlight. Multi-signature wallets help to make decentralized applications more secure eliminating single failure points. Here’s the lowdown:
Investopedia backs this up: multi-sig wallets “make crypto assets safer” by needing more than one person to approve a transaction. For any decentralized app that holds user money, using multi-sig is one of the easiest ways to put web3 security best practices for wallets into action. It connects to bigger blockchain safety efforts by making even strong attacks (like stealing private keys) much harder to pull off .
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Very much connected to multi-sig is personal wallet security. All stakeholders — users and developers — must observe strict crypto wallet security practices:
Given that nearly half of all crypto stolen includes key abuse, these are core practices. Blockchainsecurity best practices require that funds be transferred only with clear, secure approval — by hardware sign-off, multisig co-signers, or threshold cryptography.
Studying failed and successful security examples serves to solidify best practices:
These examples underscore that blockchain threat mitigation is never one-and-done. It demands constant watching, community education, and frequently third-party monitoring.
For businesses and startups trying to navigate this intricate security environment, it is vital to partner with mature blockchain security experts. Blockchaintechs.io merges technical knowledge with consulting backgrounds to offer end-to-end secure blockchain solutions. Here’s why we keep your project safe:
Ongoing Partnership & Support: Web3 initiatives change quickly. Security must change with them. Blockchaintechs.io is still a partner after launch, guiding you on upgrades, managing incident response if necessary, and keeping your team informed about new threats.
In each engagement, Blockchaintechs.io focuses on cooperation and teaching. We enable your developers with training in smart contract weakness, DApp security, and new web3 security tools. By joining together early, we embed security within your product roadmap, sidestepping the pricey retrofits they’ve had to endure. Start Today: Be it an enterprise introducing a permissioned blockchain or a DeFi startup, it’s high-stakes. Avoid waiting for there to be a breach to proof your defenses against. Reach out to Blockchaintechs.io today to talk about how we can assist in securing your platform – from smart contract audits to multi-sig wallet configuration, to end-to-end blockchain solutions.
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Blockchain security is an ever-present obligation. The immutable, decentralized nature of blockchains ensures that errors can’t be reversed. By being aware of the typical threats – from bugs in smart contracts to theft of keys – and taking active steps to apply mitigation techniques, organizations can minimize risk significantly. Key strategies include comprehensive security audits, multi-signature controls, strict key management, and ongoing monitoring.
Enterprises and startups involved in Web3 should adopt these blockchain security best practices as non-negotiables. Given the rapidly evolving threat environment (as recent data shows), there is no room for complacency. Partnering with a trusted security provider like Blockchaintechs.io ensures that you’re building on a foundation of safety. With expert developers, auditors, and consultants on your side, your project will have the robust defenses needed to thrive. Secure your blockchain today: tap into expert skills for auditing, development, and strategy. The benefits – safeguarded assets, user trust, and regulatory peace of mind – far exceed the cost of a breach. With the right team and best practices, your blockchain platform can be both innovative and resilient to the threats of today.
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