Trust Wallet Users Lose $7 Million in Malicious Chrome Extension Attack

Trust Wallet users have fallen victim to a sophisticated cybercrime operation that drained approximately $7 million from cryptocurrency wallets through a malicious Chrome browser extension, according to security researchers tracking the incident. The attack represents the latest in a series of devastating cryptocurrency thefts that have plagued the digital asset ecosystem throughout 2025.

The malicious extension masqueraded as a legitimate Trust Wallet browser plugin on the Chrome Web Store, successfully deceiving users into installing what they believed was an official wallet interface. Once installed, the fake extension gained access to users’ private keys and wallet credentials, enabling attackers to systematically drain funds from compromised accounts over several days before the scheme was discovered and reported.

Security analysts believe the attack was orchestrated by North Korean state-sponsored cybercriminals, who have emerged as the dominant force behind cryptocurrency theft operations in 2025. According to data from $6.5M In Venture Funding To Expand AI-driven Blockchain Security Solutions”>blockchain monitoring firms Chainalysis and TRM Labs, North Korean hacking groups have stolen approximately $2.7 billion in cryptocurrency this year alone, representing a significant escalation in their targeting of digital assets.

The Trust Wallet incident highlights the growing sophistication of crypto-focused cybercrime operations, which increasingly exploit the trust users place in official app stores and browser extension repositories. Unlike traditional phishing attacks that rely on social engineering, this operation involved creating convincing replicas of legitimate software interfaces that passed initial security screenings.

Browser extension-based attacks have become particularly effective because they operate within users’ trusted browsing environments, making malicious activity harder to detect. The fake Trust Wallet extension reportedly included functionality that appeared legitimate while secretly harvesting sensitive wallet information in the background. This dual-purpose design allowed the malware to operate undetected for an extended period while maximizing the value of stolen assets.

The timing of the attack coincides with increased cryptocurrency adoption and rising digital asset values, creating more lucrative targets for cybercriminals. Trust Wallet, owned by Binance, serves millions of users worldwide and supports hundreds of cryptocurrencies across multiple blockchain networks, making it an attractive target for large-scale theft operations.

Industry security experts note that the incident underscores fundamental vulnerabilities in the current cryptocurrency wallet ecosystem, where users often rely on third-party browser extensions and mobile applications to manage significant financial assets. The decentralized nature of cryptocurrency transactions means that stolen funds are typically irreversible, creating powerful incentives for sophisticated criminal operations.

The broader cryptocurrency security landscape has deteriorated significantly in 2025, with De.Fi’s REKT database documenting approximately $2.7 billion in total losses across various platforms and protocols. Major incidents include the $1.4 billion hack of Dubai-based exchange Bybit, also attributed to North Korean attackers, demonstrating the scale and coordination of state-sponsored cryptocurrency theft operations.

The Trust Wallet Chrome extension hack serves as a critical reminder that cryptocurrency security extends beyond individual wallet practices to include careful verification of software sources and regular security audits of installed applications. As digital asset adoption continues expanding, the intersection of traditional cybersecurity threats with decentralized financial systems will likely remain a significant challenge for both users and platform operators.