Ransomware payments fell to approximately $820 million in 2025, according to a report by Chainalysis, even as the number of attacks reached unprecedented levels. This decline in payments suggests a shift in victim response strategies, possibly due to increased awareness and improved cybersecurity measures. Despite the surge in attack frequency, the reduced financial impact highlights a potential change in the effectiveness of ransomware campaigns. The data indicates that while cybercriminals are launching more attacks, their success in extracting payments is diminishing.