$62 Million Vanished: The Rise of After Fusaka Upgrade

In the fast-moving world of cryptocurrency, Ethereum has always been a leader. But recent upgrades have brought unexpected problems. Scammers are using a trick called address poisoning to steal millions. In just two months, losses hit $62 million. One victim lost $12.2 million in January. Another lost $50 million in December. These attacks are easier now because of the Fusaka upgrade. It lowered fees, making scams cheaper to run.

What is Ethereum Address Poisoning?

Address poisoning is a sneaky scam. Scammers send tiny amounts of crypto, called dust transactions, from wallet addresses that look almost the same as your own. These fake addresses match the first and last few characters of real ones you use. They differ only in the middle.

When you check your transaction history, the fake one blends in. If you copy-paste an address quickly, you might pick the wrong one. Then, your big transfer goes straight to the scammer.

Security experts say this is one of the top ways big crypto sums get stolen. Losses can range from $4 million to over $100 million in single hits. It’s simple social engineering – no hacks needed, just tricking your eyes and habits.

How the Fusaka Upgrade Fueled the Fire

Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade hit the mainnet in December. It cut transaction costs and boosted speed. Great for users, right? Wrong for safety.

Low fees mean scammers can spam thousands of dust transactions cheaply. Each one is a trap waiting for a victim. Most fail, but the few that work pay off big.

Post-upgrade, Ethereum’s activity exploded. Daily transactions reached all-time highs. New and active addresses surged. But not all is real growth. A big chunk comes from these scam campaigns.

Data shows dust activity linked to stablecoins makes up 11% of all Ethereum transactions. It covers 26% of active addresses. One study looked at 227 million wallet updates from November 2025 to January 2026. It found 38% of addresses hold less than a penny – classic dust signs.

These fake transactions pump up the numbers. They make Ethereum look busier than it is. Yet, ETH price sits at around $2,052, down 2.82% in the last day. No big rally despite the “boom.” This points to artificial hype.

Signature Phishing: Another Growing Threat

It’s not just address poisoning. Signature phishing jumped too. In January, scammers stole $6.27 million from 4,741 victims. That’s a 207% rise from December.

Two big wallets took 65% of those losses. This scam tricks you into signing bad transactions. Think unlimited token approvals. You approve, and scammers drain your wallet later.

• Top case: $3.02 million stolen in one go.
• Scammers use fake sites or messages to fool you.
• Always check what you sign!

Why Stablecoins Like DAI Are Scam Favorites

Scammers love stablecoins for stolen funds. DAI stands out. It’s decentralized, and its protocol won’t freeze wallets for cops. This makes it a safe “parking spot” for dirty money.

Blockchain trackers note DAI’s rise in illicit use. Dust attacks often use stablecoins too, hiding in plain sight among legit transfers.

The Real Cost to Ethereum’s Image

$ After Fusaka Upgrade> shows a dark side. Network records look impressive, but scams inflate them. Real users suffer. ETH price stays flat, signaling doubt.

Adoption grows, but security lags. Cheap fees help everyone – including crooks. Ethereum needs better tools to fight this.

How to Protect Yourself from Address Poisoning

Don’t be the next victim. Simple steps can save millions:

1. Double-check addresses: Always verify full address, not just ends. Use copy-paste carefully.
2. Ignore dust: Small incoming transactions? Don’t interact. Mark as spam in your wallet.
3. Use address books: Save trusted addresses. Pick from there, not history.
4. Enable warnings: Wallets like MetaMask now flag poisons. Turn them on.
5. Hardware wallets: Extra security layer. Confirm on device screen.
6. For signatures: Never approve unlimited. Revoke old approvals on sites like Revoke.cash.

Stay vigilant. Scams evolve, but awareness wins.

What’s Next for Ethereum Security?

Fusaka was a step forward. But it opened doors for abuse. Community talks about anti-dust filters, better UX, and scam detectors on-chain.

Tools from security firms help track poisons. Wallets improve copy protections. Ethereum’s future is bright, but only if users and devs fight scams head-on.

The $62 million lesson is clear: Low fees mean high risks. Protect your stack.

Prices and data as of recent reports. Crypto is volatile – DYOR.

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