Crypto Hacking: How Hackers Target Wallets, Exchanges, and Airdrops

When you hear crypto hacking, the deliberate theft or manipulation of digital assets through technical exploits or deception. Also known as crypto theft, it’s not just about broken code—it’s about tricking people into giving away their keys. Every year, millions in crypto vanish because someone clicked a fake link, trusted a fake exchange, or thought an airdrop was real. This isn’t sci-fi. It’s happening right now to people just like you.

Crypto scams, fraudulent schemes designed to steal cryptocurrency under false pretenses. Also known as rug pulls, they often masquerade as legitimate projects—like the fake PYMs airdrop or the non-existent POTS token. These aren’t bugs. They’re business models built on urgency and fear. Then there’s wallet security, the practice of protecting private keys and preventing unauthorized access to crypto holdings. Also known as self-custody safety, it’s the one thing no exchange can do for you. If your seed phrase is leaked, your coins are gone—no chargeback, no help desk, no second chances. And don’t forget exchange hacks, breaches where attackers compromise centralized platforms to steal user funds. Also known as custodial breaches, they’ve taken down platforms like FutureX Pro, which claimed to be "FinCEN-approved" but had zero proof. Real exchanges like Coinbase or Kraken have layers of defense. Scams? They have flashy websites and YouTube ads.

What you’ll find below isn’t theory. It’s real cases. The dead coins like EDRCoin and Rivetz that vanished without a trace. The fake exchanges like Ostable and QB that don’t exist but still fool people. The airdrop scams pretending to be from Moonpot or PlayerMon, all designed to drain your wallet the second you connect it. You’ll see how Nigeria and Vietnam bypass banking bans—only to get hit by new tax traps. You’ll learn why a 1% TDS in India or a 0.1% tax in Vietnam doesn’t stop hackers, but ignoring basic security will. This isn’t about being a tech expert. It’s about knowing what to avoid. The next time you see a "free token" or a "no KYC exchange," ask: Who’s really getting rich here?