This article is part of BitMart's security collaboration with Malwarebytes, aimed at helping crypto users protect their devices and personal data beyond the exchange.
We have all heard this story: a crypto trader lost everything in a single transaction.
He might have done everything right. Hardware wallet. Seed phrase stored offline. 2FA on his exchange account. According to any typical security checklist, he was a responsible crypto user.
The attacker never touched his exchange account, never cracked his wallet or intercepted his seed phrase.
They got in through his device - malware that had been sitting silently on his laptop for months, waiting. One copied wallet address, one silent swap, one confirmation, and the funds were gone before the block settled. Irreversible.
The Gap in the Standard Advice
The security checklist most crypto users follow was designed to protect against a specific threat: someone attacking the exchange or the wallet directly.
It works for that. Exchanges have never been more secure, and hardware wallets are genuinely difficult to compromise. 2FA stops most credential-based attacks, but the attack surface has moved.
The threat in 2026 isn't your wallet. It's the device you use to access it - the browser running when you sign a transaction, the extensions installed when you were less careful, or the email account tied to everything. This is the environment that exists entirely outside what an exchange can see or protect.
Most security education doesn't cover this space. Not because it isn't important - because most exchanges only control their side of the equation. What happens on your device is, technically, not their problem.
We think that should change.
Why Crypto Users Are Specifically Targeted
Crypto users aren't targeted randomly. They're targeted because the payoff profile is uniquely attractive to attackers. Traditional bank fraud is difficult and has lots of friction. Banks can reverse transactions, and fraud detection systems flag unusual activity.
Crypto does not have this much scrutiny. Transactions are irreversible by design, and there's no customer service line to call. No chargeback. No insurance policy that kicks in automatically. If funds leave your wallet to an attacker's address, they're gone - this is the most important fact one should understand before depositing funds to any crypto wallet, but many still neglect it.
This makes crypto users worth the effort of a sophisticated, targeted attack in a way that most online accounts simply aren't. Add to that the fact that the average crypto user holds meaningful value in an account that's accessed daily through a regular consumer device - the same laptop used for browsing, the same phone used for everything else - and you have a high-value target with a surprisingly large attack surface!
What $2.1 Billion in Losses Actually Looks Like
$2.1 billion was stolen from crypto users in 2025. The headline attacks - major exchange and protocol breaches - account for the large numbers. But beneath that, a quieter and more pervasive problem: individual users losing funds through compromised devices, every single day.
A single data leak in June 2025 exposed 16 billion stolen credentials. Not from company servers - from individual users' home computers, harvested by malware that most victims never knew was there.
According to Malwarebytes' internal analysis, 95%+ of emails scanned through their Digital Footprint tool come back with exposed personally identifiable information - passwords, phone numbers, financial data, often from breaches years old that the user never heard about.
That data is the raw material for targeted attacks. An attacker who knows your name, your email and that you use a specific exchange doesn't need to guess. They can craft something convincing enough to work.
The Security Layer Most People Are Missing
Platform security is BitMart's job. We take it seriously - but it only covers what happens on our side.
The device layer is yours. And for most crypto users, it's the weakest point in the chain.
This is why BitMart partnered with Malwarebytes - 18 years in consumer cybersecurity, AVLab Product of the Year 2025 - to give users the tools to close that gap.
Free device scanner - checks your device for malware, spyware and active threats. Two minutes, no account needed. Most people who run this for the first time find something they didn't know was there.
Free Digital Footprint Scan - enter your primary email and it checks breach databases and data broker sites for exposed personal data. Takes 30 seconds.
Both are available here, completely free: malwarebytes.com/partners/bitmart
If You Want to Go Further
The free tools show you where you stand. For users who want continuous protection - real-time malware detection, VPN, dark web monitoring, identity theft insurance up to $2M USD, and Scam Guard AI that analyses suspicious links in real time - Malwarebytes plans cover all of it.
BitMart users get up to 55% off through the partnership page → malwarebytes.com/partners/bitmart
The Checklist, Extended
The original checklist is still correct. It just needs one more layer:
- ✅ Hardware wallet for significant holdings
- ✅ Seed phrase stored offline, never digitised
- ✅ 2FA enabled on the exchange
- ✅ Device scanned for malware
- ✅ Browser extensions audited and cleaned up
- ✅ OS and browser kept updated
- ✅ Personal data exposure checked
Frequently Asked Questions
Can crypto be stolen without my seed phrase?
Yes. The most common individual crypto thefts in 2026 do not involve seed phrase theft at all. Clipboard hijackers swap wallet addresses mid-transaction, infostealers steal authenticated browser sessions bypassing 2FA entirely, and AI-generated phishing tricks users into approving fraudulent transactions. Your seed phrase can be perfectly safe while your funds are still at risk.
How do clipboard hijackers work?
A clipboard hijacker is malware that runs silently on your device and monitors your clipboard. When it detects that you have copied a cryptocurrency wallet address, it immediately replaces it with an attacker-controlled address. By the time you paste and confirm the transaction, the funds go to the attacker. The swap is invisible unless you verify every character of the address manually before confirming.
Does a VPN protect me from crypto theft?
A VPN encrypts your internet connection and hides your IP address, which protects against network-level attacks and reduces your data footprint. It does not protect against malware already on your device, clipboard hijackers, or phishing attacks. For crypto users it works best combined with a device scan and real-time malware protection.
Is the Malwarebytes scan really free?
Yes. If you choose to upgrade for ongoing real-time protection, BitMart users receive up to 55% off the Malwarebytes plans.
What is a Digital Footprint Scan?
A Digital Footprint Scan checks your primary email address against known data breach databases and data broker sites to see what personal information about you is publicly exposed online. This includes passwords, phone numbers, financial data, and other personally identifiable information from historical breaches you may never have heard about. Knowing what is exposed is the first step to understanding your targeted attack risk.
What is the best free tool to check if my device has malware?
Malwarebytes offers a free device scanner that checks for malware, spyware, clipboard hijackers, and infostealers. It takes two minutes, requires no account, and is available to all users via the BitMart partnership page at malwarebytes.com/partners/bitmart.
BitMart has partnered with Malwarebytes to provide users with free security tools and an exclusive discount on full protection. The free tools require no purchase.
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or security advice.
