Blockchain security firm PeckShield reported on Monday that cryptocurrency hackers stole $163 million in August, a 15% increase from July's $142 million.
This increase is attributed to a strategic shift whereby attackers are now focusing on high-value targets, such as centralized exchanges and individual "whales."
The monthly total was heavily skewed by a massive social engineering attack.
In that incident, a Bitcoin user was tricked by people posing as an exchange's support service into sending 783 BTC, worth $91 million at the time.
Despite the monthly increase, the figure represents a 47% decrease compared to the same period last year.