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Crypto Industry Losses Top $1 Billion Due to Major CeFi Hacks

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According to a recent Immunefi report, the crypto industry has faced significant financial setbacks since the beginning of 2024. Losses due to hacks and fraud have exceeded $1.19 billion.

The losses recorded in the first seven months of this year showed a notable 16.3% increase compared to the same period in 2023, when losses amounted to $1.02 billion. These numbers highlight the persistent and growing threat cybercriminals pose to the crypto industry.

CeFi Suffers Most as Crypto Losses Skyrocket in July

In July, Immunefi reported that the crypto sector suffered losses of $269.4 million in 14 separate incidents. This reflects a 90% increase from June, making July the second most damaging month of 2024. The most significant losses were in May, reaching $358 million.

Despite the monthly rise, the year-over-year comparison shows a 15.9% decrease in July losses. The bulk of these recent losses can be attributed to a major hack on the Indian centralized exchange WazirX, which suffered a devastating $235 million loss.

Read more: 15 Most Common Crypto Scams To Look Out For

Crypto Losses in June vs. July 2024.
Crypto Losses in June vs. July 2024. Source: Immunefi

Centralized finance (CeFi) has borne the brunt of these attacks, surpassing decentralized finance (DeFi) in terms of the total volume of funds lost. In July, CeFi accounted for 87% of the total losses, while DeFi platforms saw $34.4 million in losses spread across 13 incidents.

Furthermore, the report pointed out that hacks remain the predominant cause of these losses, with $266.5 million lost to such incidents in July alone. In comparison, fraud and scams only accounted for 1.1% of the total losses for the month.

Immunefi’s report also sheds light on the involvement of North Korean hacker groups, particularly the notorious Lazarus Group, in some of the most significant attacks. The WazirX hack, for instance, is suspected to be orchestrated by North Korean hackers.

The report reveals that Ethereum and BNB Chain were the most targeted blockchain networks in July. These blockchains collectively accounted for 71.4% of the total losses. Ethereum alone suffered seven attacks, representing half of the total incidents, while BNB Chain experienced three significant breaches.

ChainSwap’s founder and CEO, Fitzy, shared his perspective with BeInCrypto regarding this situation. He acknowledges that while Web3 technology drives innovation, it also opens avenues for financial crimes and fraud. He clarifies that Web3 tools aren’t inherently criminogenic but rather are exploited as new mediums by scammers.

“Web3 tools do not cause crime, it is just used as a new medium to commit some scams. The common thing across all these mediums is that the best way someone can protect themselves from scams and fraud is to proceed with caution. Victims of scams and fraud are usually the ones who do not know any better,” Fitzy explained.

Additionally, Slava Demchuk, CEO of AMLBot, pointed out that the significant losses due to hacker attacks and fraud in this industry show the urgent need for strong security measures. He suggested that beyond implementing general software security and encryption, conducting frequent audits and penetration tests is crucial.

“Personal training in handling sensitive data and stricter employee hiring processes are crucial as well. For instance, the Fractal ID hack exposed vulnerabilities in KYC data handling, leading to leaked information on the dark web. Similarly, the Coinspad hack illustrated the risks associated with inadequate employee vetting when a new, well-paid employee exploited the system from within,” Demchuk said.

Read more: Top 5 Flaws in Crypto Security and How To Avoid Them

Echoing Demchuk, Fitzy also cautioned individual investors to protect themselves from scams and fraud, particularly in decentralized applications.

“For centralized companies and systems, governments need to find new ways to monitor activities for this new asset class and companies around it. For decentralized applications, the best way for people to stay safe is to have caution and knowledge for themselves. Indicators like volume, number of people in the community, credible founders or partners – are all good indicators for an application that is likely safe to use,” he added.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Crypto Pundit Predicts Historical 9,468% Pump To $27

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Este artículo también está disponible en español.

A new XRP price prediction by popular crypto pundit Egrag Crypto projects that the cryptocurrency could experience a historical price surge of about 9,468%. This predicted price gain would push XRP from its current price of $0.58 to $27, marking new All-Time Highs (ATHs).  

XRP Price Forecasted To Pump To These Targets

Egrag Crypto has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express his bullish outlook on XRP, predicting the cryptocurrency could surge as high as $27. On Wednesday, September 18, the crypto analyst shared a price chart illustrating a speculative breakdown of potential price movements for XRP using five distinctive color indicators to represent various price increase scenarios. 

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XRP price
Source: X

Each of these scenarios has been carefully analyzed, grounded on historical price trends and past price pumps. Additionally, the color indicators — white, yellow, red, blue, and green, are all arranged respectively to represent the ascending price potential of XRP. 

The white color indicator predicts that XRP is set to witness a 932% pump from the analyst’s predicted cycle low of $0.28. While this scenario is relatively conservative compared to other projections, if XRP can achieve the predicted pump, its price could surge to $3, nearing current all-time highs. 

The yellow color indicator foresees XRP increasing by 1,538%, potentially driving its price to fresh all-time highs of $4.85. While this target is much higher than the white scenario, it is still within the realm of possibility if the cryptocurrency maintains a positive momentum.

The red indicator projects that XRP’s price will jump to $6.22, marking a 2,035% increase. This massive surge would signal a strong bull run for the cryptocurrency, likely reflecting the influence of major external factors such as mass adoption and more legal clarity

In the blue color scenario, XRP is set to reach a higher price of $7.68, representing a whopping 2,536% increase. At this price, XRP would likely be seen as a major player in the market with potential long-term viability. 

Finally, the green color indicator predicts that XRP could witness a 9,468% price surge, potentially driving the cryptocurrency to a staggering $27. Although this ambitious prediction would be a historic achievement, it remains a far-fetched possibility with XRP’s current market dynamics

XRP Community Express Skepticism

While Egrag Crypto’s bullish projections for XRP raise the hopes of investors who have been HODLing the coin for years now despite its low value and persistent consolidation phase, many have also expressed doubts. A few crypto members criticized the analyst, calling him out for his overly bullish forecasts for XRP. 

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Other members found the ambitious price predictions humorous, declaring that XRP is a “shit coin” and would remain so for a long period. Additionally, one crypto member underscored XRP’s long-term stagnant growth, highlighting that he had bought $1,000 worth of the cryptocurrency early last year but only accrued a profit of $100. 

XRP price chart from Tradingview.com
XRP shows a lot of volatility | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com



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Crypto Brands Return to Sports Sponsorships With 26 Deals

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Crypto sports sponsorship is cautiously rebounding in 2024, signaling a modest revival from the downturn following the boom in 2021. Despite these signs of recovery, the sector still falls short of reaching the highs witnessed during the peak year.

The increase in sports sponsorship also indicates a recovery of the crypto market. Brands are sponsoring sports teams because they have additional funds available for such marketing activities.

The crypto industry started heavily investing in sports sponsorship in 2021. During that year, the industry saw an unprecedented expansion with 42 new deals, representing 45.6% of the total 92 sports sponsorships from 2021 to 2024.

This growth was propelled by a bullish digital currency market, which led to significant agreements. Notably, Crypto.com secured a $700 million deal for the naming rights of Staples Center, renaming it to Crypto.com Arena.

Additionally, FTX entered into a $210 million sponsorship with esports group Team SoloMid. The aggressive sponsorship came as firms sought mainstream visibility and adoption.

Read more: 14 Best Crypto Marketing Agencies for 2024

However, the narrative shifted drastically in 2022 with the market’s downturn. The sector saw a severe reduction in new deals, dropping to 25. The collapse of FTX, previously a key player, led to canceled deals, including its partnerships with the Miami Heat and other sports platforms.

Despite the downturn, some firms like Bybit and Vechain managed to secure substantial agreements; Bybit secured a $150 million deal with Red Bull Racing, and Vechain signed a $100 million contract with UFC.

The downward trend persisted into 2023, with only 8 new sponsorships signed, though 14 existing deals were renewed. Amidst prolonged bearish market conditions and the FTX fallout, the industry remained cautious, limiting substantial financial commitments. However, OKX demonstrated resilience by securing a $70 million deal with Manchester City, illustrating that strategic investments could still thrive.

By 2024, the industry witnessed a gentle recovery, with 26 new sponsorships and 16 continuing from prior years. Noteworthy among these was Crypto.com’s sponsorship with the UEFA Champions League and BlockDAG’s $10 million deal with Borussia Dortmund (BVB). Additionally, Bitget announced a new partnership with LaLiga to enhance crypto adoption in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

“The volume of new sponsorships has not surpassed the 2021 levels, but the uptick in activity suggests crypto firms are slowly re-entering the sports space,” CoinGecko said.

Read more: Top 5 Crypto Companies That Might Go Public (IPO) in 2024

Crypto Sponsorships in Sports
Crypto Sponsorships in Sports. Source: CoinGecko

Specifically, crypto sponsorships have primarily focused on football, with early adopters including prominent clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City. The strategy extended to global events such as the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup, leveraging football’s massive international following.

Despite the market’s volatility, some partnerships, like Crypto.com’s diverse sponsorships and Bybit’s strong presence in Formula 1, have become long-term success stories.

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TradFi To Become Biggest DeFi Customer

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Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov predicts that tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) will soon be more valuable than cryptocurrencies. He points to the increasing involvement of traditional finance in decentralized finance, driven by a growing interest in tokenization.

Nazarov also noted that Chainlink is ready to take advantage of this shift in the blockchain space.

TradFi Interest in Tokenized RWAs To Alter Blockchain

Nazarov anticipates an interconnected world where decentralized finance (DeFi) and TradFi actively transact with each other. Acknowledging the growing interest in tokenized RWAs, he says TradFi would be DeFi’s largest customer.

Speaking at Token2049 in Singapore, Nazarov highlighted DeFi’s ability to generate yield and create reliable markets for RWAs. He urged the industry to prepare for this shift, noting that it’s already happening, driven by asset tokenization. According to Nazarov, blockchain technology is giving TradFi exactly what it needs.

Chainlink co-founder also highlighted how decentralized infrastructures like Chainlink and smart contracts are transforming the digital space by removing the need for traditional counterparty relationships. Instead of relying on human decision-making, automated code ensures outcomes, improving efficiency and reducing risks that traditional finance models often face.

Read more:  Real World Asset (RWA) Backed Tokens Explained

Chainlink co-founder on TradFi, DeFi, and tokenized RWA during Token2049 in Singapore

Nazarov emphasized that this represents a major shift from the current TradFi model, where delays and risks stem from human intervention.

His remarks align with his statements from late August, when he predicted that tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) would surpass crypto in value by 2027, driven by institutional interest and TradFi integration. Currently, the RWA market is growing, with RWA.xyz data showing it is already a $2.22 billion industry.

Tokenized RWA
Tokenized Securities Industry Valuation. Source: RWA.xyz

This development comes as blockchain technology continues to tackle the infrastructure challenges faced by traditional finance, while also opening up new investment opportunities. Blockchain’s ability to streamline workflows and significantly improve settlement times is especially appealing — echoing what Sergey Nazarov explained about the efficiency and certainty that decentralized systems offer.

“TradFi needs all kinds of different data that allow those traditional finance smart contracts to function properly…the Net Asset Value (NAV) data of tokenized funds is an example of a dashboard live on production showing the proof of Reserves of one of the many ETF funds use to prove things about them,” Nazarov said.

Read more: What is Tokenization on Blockchain?

Notwithstanding, the road to a complete transition to digital infrastructure is marred with challenges. Among them are legal considerations, identity standards, and data privacy, which would demand careful evaluation with regulatory systems in mind.

Accordingly, TradFi and DeFi players and the broader financial services industry must work to build infrastructures capable of supporting broader tokenization adoption while ensuring security and compliance before Nazarov’s dream can become a reality.

Disclaimer

In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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