‍Ransomware Attacks Surge 50% in 2025, Targeting SMEs

Global cybercrime saw a significant shift in 2025, with ransomware incidents increasing by 50% to nearly 8,000 recorded leak events. Despite the surge in activity, total on-chain ransom payments decreased by 8% to $820 million.

This indicates a strategic pivot from "big game hunting" large corporations to a high-volume approach targeting small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Factors include increased regulatory scrutiny on money laundering infrastructure and stricter no-pay policies from large organizations. The rise of AI-assisted tools has also lowered the barrier to entry for cybercriminals, flooding the market with cheap ransomware and automated attack pipelines.

https://cryptovka.com/news/ransomware-attacks-surge-50-in-2025-as-hackers-pivot-to-smes