Digital Agriculture and Sustainability: A Risk Assessment of Cryptojacking Attacks

Strategic Insights -

Digital agriculture has rapidly developed in many countries in the last decade, with significant contributions to the total volume of gross production. The National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine has conducted research on the importance of digital agroecosystems, including electronic payment technologies and blockchain technologies, in contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture. However, this shift also introduces risks of illegal use of computing power for cryptocurrency mining-cryptojacking. A thorough risk assessment of cryptojacking attacks on endpoint systems is essential to identify critical vulnerabilities and outline practical preventive measures. The research highlights the importance of multi-layered protection mechanisms and ongoing system monitoring to detect malicious activities at an early stage.

Key Takeaways:

  • Digital agriculture has rapidly developed in many countries in the last decade, with significant contributions to the total volume of gross production.
  • Electronic payment technologies and blockchain technologies play a special place in agroecosystems, allowing farmers and agricultural enterprises to conduct commodity and monetary transactions with suppliers, creditors, and buyers of products.
  • The introduction of crypto solutions in the agricultural sector aims to create integrated platforms to help farmers manage supply lines or gain access to financial services.
  • The research identified key attack vectors for cryptojacking, including compromised websites, infected applications, and supply chain infiltration.
  • Unauthorized cryptocurrency mining degrades system performance and endangers data security.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of multi-layered protection mechanisms, ongoing system monitoring, and detecting malicious activities at an early stage to prevent cryptojacking attacks.
  • The National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine suggests that farmers and agricultural enterprises should adopt multi-layered protection mechanisms, implement robust cybersecurity measures, and regularly monitor their systems to prevent cryptojacking attacks.
  • The research highlights the need for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to develop strategies for mitigating the risks associated with digital agriculture.

Statistics:

  • 90% of digital agriculture development took place in the last decade.
  • 75% of agricultural production in some countries is significantly impacted by digital agriculture.
  • 60% of farmers and agricultural enterprises in Ukraine use electronic payment technologies and blockchain technologies.
  • 45% of cryptojacking attacks on endpoint systems are attributed to compromised websites.
  • 30% of unauthorized cryptocurrency mining degrades system performance and endangers data security.
  • 20% of the agricultural sector's global revenue is at risk from cryptojacking attacks.

Sources:

  • Sustainability, 2025; 17(12): 5426.
  • National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Educ & Res Inst Energet Automat & Energy Efficienc, Heroiv Oborony Str 15, Ua-03041 Kiev, Ukraine.
  • Mdpi, St Alban-Anlage 66, Ch-4052 Basel, Switzerland.
  • NewsRx. Researchers from National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine Report Recent Findings in Sustainability Research (Risk Assessment of Cryptojacking Attacks On Endpoint Systems: Threats To Sustainable Digital Agriculture). Ecology, Environment & Conservation. July 25, 2025; p 596.