In 2025, impersonation crypto scams surged by 1400%, with AI-driven industrialization of scams becoming the biggest concern

On January 14, news, the latest report released by blockchain data analysis firm Chainalysis shows a “concerning trend” emerging in the cryptocurrency space by 2025: the number of impersonation scams has surged approximately 1400% year-over-year, becoming one of the fastest-growing types of fraud, while the average loss per scam has also increased significantly.

Overall, impersonation scams have become one of the core risks in the current crypto security landscape. Impersonation scams refer to malicious actors disguising themselves as trusted individuals, official institutions, or well-known platforms to induce users to transfer funds or to steal sensitive information such as private keys and account permissions through social engineering tactics. Chainalysis points out that an increasing number of investment scams and “pig butchering” schemes are beginning to combine with impersonation methods, forming highly complex fraud patterns.

In terms of financial scale, the single-loss amount caused by impersonation scams has increased by over 600% year-over-year. One of the most typical cases in 2025 involved scammers impersonating the top US cryptocurrency exchange, deceiving victims to the tune of nearly $16 million. The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office in the United States filed charges against related suspects in December last year, involving major theft and money laundering allegations.

In summary, the widespread application of artificial intelligence is accelerating the “industrialization” of scams. Chainalysis notes that scam groups using AI tools are significantly more efficient and profitable, with profit levels approximately 4.5 times higher than traditional scams. AI not only lowers the barrier to committing scams but also enhances the credibility of scam scripts, enabling scammers to manipulate more victims simultaneously.

Although law enforcement agencies have increased efforts to combat scams in 2025, the report suggests that relying solely on post-event enforcement will still be insufficient to curb risks after 2026. Chainalysis recommends that countries strengthen real-time fraud monitoring systems, improve cross-border cooperation, and allocate resources in both regulatory and technological aspects.

On a personal level, security experts remind crypto users to assume that all unsolicited information could be risky, never disclose private keys or verification codes, and use multi-factor authentication mechanisms to reduce reliance on human trust. Overall, the rapid evolution of impersonation scams has become an systemic challenge in the crypto market that cannot be ignored in 2026.