Ransomware Payment Rates Hit All-Time Low of 28% Despite 50% Surge in Total Attacks

Chainalysis report shows ransomware payment rates dropped to 28% in 2025 even as attacks surged 50%, with median payments rising to $59,556.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 26, 2026, 9:19 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Bleeping Computer

A Decoupling of Attacks and Revenue

For the first time in the history of the ransomware economy, a massive spike in attack frequency has not translated into a proportional increase in criminal revenue. Blockchain intelligence platform Chainalysis found that while 2025 saw a 50% rise in claimed attacks, the victim payment rate dropped from 62.8% in 2024 to just 28%. This shift is attributed to improved incident response capabilities, stricter regulatory scrutiny, and a growing international consensus among law enforcement agencies to discourage financial concessions to cybercriminals.

The Rise of "Big Game Hunting"

Although the aggregate revenue from ransomware has softened, threat actors are extracting more value from the victims who do choose to pay. The median ransom payment jumped from $12,738 in 2024 to $59,556 in 2025. This indicates a shift toward "Big Game Hunting," where attackers target large enterprises for massive sums. High-impact breaches highlighted in the report include:

Jaguar Land Rover: An attack causing an estimated $2.5 billion in damages.

Marks & Spencer: A breach attributed to the "Scattered Spider" group.