Disclaimer: Information found on CryptoreNews is those of writers quoted. It does not represent the opinions of CryptoreNews on whether to sell, buy or hold any investments. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use provided information at your own risk.
CryptoreNews covers fintech, blockchain and Bitcoin bringing you the latest crypto news and analyses on the future of money.
Following the Ethereum upgrade, one in every nine transactions has been classified as a “crypto dusting attack.”, 2026/02/04 09:50:34
Following the launch of the Fusaka update in the Ethereum network, the volume of “dust transactions” involving stablecoins has surged by two to three times, according to analysts from Coin Metrics. They examined over 227 million wallet updates with USDC and USDT from November to January.
Related Posts
The study revealed that 43% of transactions involved transfers of less than $1, while 38% were for amounts below one cent. Such transfers lack economic value and are intended for “wallet seeding,” as explained by the experts. The aim of these attacks is to trick users into inadvertently copying an incorrect address during a transaction, leading to funds being sent to fraudsters.
On average, 11% of all transactions on Ethereum are now associated with micro-transfers in stablecoins, with 26% of active addresses participating in such activities daily. The daily number of wallets engaged in “dust activity” is estimated to range from 250,000 to 350,000.
In comparison, prior to the Fusaka update, the share of “dust transactions” involving stablecoins accounted for 3-5% of the total network operations, while the proportion of active addresses was 15-20%. After the update, these figures increased to 10-15% and 25-35%, respectively, as reported by Coin Metrics. 57% of balance updates are still linked to transfers exceeding $1.
The increase in “dust operations” is attributed to the Fusaka update, which reduced transaction costs in the network by optimizing data processing at the chain level. Consequently, the average number of daily operations has surpassed 2 million, with mid-January figures nearing 2.9 million. The number of active addresses has also risen, now totaling 1.4 million daily, representing a 60% increase over previous averages.
Security researcher Andrey Sergeenkov noted a significant rise in the number of new wallets: during the week starting January 12, their count grew by 170%. He believes this is directly linked to a wave of “address poisoning” attacks that emerged amid low transaction fees. Sergeenkov also reported that approximately $740,000 was stolen within just a few days in January.
One user mistakenly transferred over $12 million in ether to a “poisoned address,” believing they were sending funds to Galaxy Digital.
