NEAR Protocol Exploit: NEAR Intents Hacked for $3.8M as Crypto Hacks Surge in 2025

NEAR Protocol's NEAR Intents feature has suffered a major security breach, with attackers draining approximately $3.8 million in crypto assets. The exploit adds to a brutal year for the blockchain industry, which has already seen billions of dollars lost to hacks, bridge attacks, and smart contract vulnerabilities in 2025. NEAR Intents, designed to enable cross-chain swaps and intent-based transactions, was compromised through a flaw that allowed malicious actors to siphon funds. The NEAR team has acknowledged the incident and is reportedly investigating the attack while urging users to revoke permissions and move assets to secure wallets. The price of NEAR (NEAR) may face short-term selling pressure as the market digests the news. This incident underscores the growing risks facing DeFi users and highlights the urgent need for stronger audits and real-time monitoring across crypto protocols. Investors holding NEAR tokens should stay alert for further updates from the NEAR Foundation and monitor on-chain activity for signs of additional exploits.