Ransomware Crooks Are Busier Than Ever — But Making Less Money, Researchers Say

Ransomware attacks surged 50% in 2025 with nearly 8,000 incidents recorded, but hackers earned less money than the previous year according to Chainalysis research. Despite the increased frequency of attacks, the cybercrime business appears to be generating lower returns per incident.

• →Ransomware attacks increased by 50% in 2025 with nearly 8,000 separate incidents recorded.
• →Despite more frequent attacks, hackers made less money overall compared to the previous year.
• →The cybercrime business shows a disconnect between activity volume and actual profitability.
• →Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis tracked and analyzed the ransomware payment data.
• →The trend suggests potential improvements in cybersecurity defenses or victim response strategies.