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Against the backdrop of a rapid rise in cryptocurrency-related crimes, a new expert forecast raises even deeper concerns: modern encryption systems could lose their effectiveness as early as 2030. And this has serious consequences not only for private data but also for the security of digital assets, including cryptocurrencies.
According to various analytical estimates, crypto scammers stole a record $17 billion in 2025, marking the highest figure on record. Moreover, a vast portion of these losses stemmed from identity theft: the volume of funds involved in such schemes increased by 1,400% compared to 2024.
The cyber police note a steady rise in cryptocurrency-related crimes: from organized schemes and money laundering to the use of stolen accounts and structured transfers via cryptocurrency services. In the current environment, with wars raging around the world, investigating such crimes is further complicated by the inability to access witnesses or equipment in temporarily occupied territories.
An analysis of criminal schemes shows that crypto assets are used not only for Ponzi schemes and phishing attacks but also for laundering corrupt funds or circumventing sanctions. Some criminals even turn to new technologies and anonymous platforms to cover their tracks.
Although blockchain itself has the property of permanently storing transactions, it is often difficult to trace and “link” them to real individuals without access to third-party data. And it is precisely this feature that attackers actively exploit.
The growing threat is not going unaddressed: the European Commission is urging member states to transition to post-quantum cryptography—new algorithms designed to remain secure even in the “quantum era.” At the same time, global standards bodies, including NIST in the U.S., are already working on implementing such algorithms, and some tech companies have begun integrating them into their systems.
Security experts warn against the “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” strategy: even if a quantum attack is not yet a reality today, attackers can intercept and store encrypted data to decrypt it later in the future when the necessary capabilities become available.
Given the risks to digital assets and the prospect of a “cryptographic breakthrough,” governments, businesses, and the tech community face a serious challenge.
After all, an effective response will require strengthened legal regulation and the active implementation of new encryption standards to ensure reliable protection of cryptocurrency transactions and digital keys in a world that is changing faster than any security protocols.
