The crypto market is facing a serious challenge, with rising cybercrime causing panic among investors. According to Mintology CEO Zach Burks, 2025 has been a rough year so far, with over $2.2 billion in stolen digital assets—including a staggering $1.5 billion heist by North Korea’s Lazarus Group.
Burks warns that the increasing number of hacks and illicit activities is not just damaging investor confidence but also posing a national security risk.
“The growing perception of crime in crypto has led to a 56% crash in the meme coin market since December,” Burks stated. “At the same time, Bitcoin has dropped from $106,000 to $83,000, and we could see it fall further to $72,000 in the coming weeks.”
He advises investors—especially those holding meme coins—to prepare for more market turbulence over the next six weeks.
Regulation Isn’t the Answer, Says Burks
While regulatory agencies like the SEC and FCA aim to tackle crypto crime, Burks believes they are inefficient at retrieving stolen funds and only add more bureaucracy without addressing the root problem.
Instead, he argues that the industry needs a decentralized, community-driven approach to fight crypto crime.
“We need a network of community-led experts, like ZachXBT, who can track illicit transactions and bring trust back to the industry,” he said.
A Bigger Threat Than Just Market Losses
For Burks, this issue goes beyond individual investors—it’s a national security risk. He warns that relying on politicians and regulators won’t solve the problem. Instead, the crypto industry must step up with practical solutions to create a fair and transparent financial system.
