Over the past few years, DeFi protocols have been increasingly targeted by hackers because their source code is freely available online, allowing criminals to more easily find bugs to exploit. Better security practices, coupled with an overall decrease in DeFi activity, were most likely behind the decline in funds stolen in 2023, Chainalysis said. More DeFi applications are improving their code auditing and receiving guidance from companies like Microsoft Corp. and Alphabet Inc.’s Google on how to strengthen their networks, according to Plante. As cryptocurrency platforms fortify their networks, North Korean hackers are racing to keep up by employing more diverse and sophisticated tactics, Plante said. More criminals are waiting patiently for an opportunity to strike by accessing networks undetected and sometimes gathering intelligence for months.