$17 Billion Lost to Crypto Scams: Experts Warn 2026 Could Be Even More Dangerous

Behind the rapid growth of cryptocurrency adoption lies a growing global problem. In 2025 alone, crypto scam victims worldwide lost more than $17 billion, making it one of the most financially damaging years ever recorded for crypto-related fraud.

Analysis cited by Fast Company, drawing on data from Chainalysis, shows that today’s scams rarely appear suspicious at first. Many victims report being contacted by what seemed to be legitimate trading platforms, customer support representatives, or investment professionals. Conversations often feel routine and professional until funds are transferred and access suddenly disappears.

According to Chainalysis, a large share of total crypto losses now comes from impersonation scams and fake investment platforms. These schemes are designed to feel trustworthy. Instead of rushing victims, scammers often spend days or weeks building confidence before asking them to move their crypto.

One of the most worrying shifts is how much victims are losing per incident. Analysis highlighted by Binance shows that average losses per victim have risen significantly, in some cases multiple times higher than in previous years. Rather than targeting large numbers of people, scammers are focusing on fewer victims with higher-value deposits.

Many modern scams involve repeated payments, emotional manipulation, and fake profit dashboards that make it appear as though an investment is growing. Victims are often encouraged to reinvest supposed profits or pay additional fees to unlock withdrawals, funds that never existed.

AI is making scams way easier, experts warn. Even small-time scammers can now use AI to create fake messages, automate spam, and pretend to be someone they're not, which means they can run bigger and more believable scams. This makes crypto fraud faster and more costly.

We don't have all the stats for this year yet, but it looks like scams are still happening a lot and aren't going away anytime soon. Experts are worried that if people aren't more careful, we could lose even more money this year.

For crypto users, the takeaway is clear: today’s scams are more polished, more persuasive, and far more costly than ever before. What looks legitimate at first glance can quickly turn into irreversible financial loss.