Crypto hacks hit record high in H1 2026 as losses top $1 billion, Blockaid says
Ethereum and Solana projects lost the most during the first half of 2026, at $332 million and $326 million, respectively.
Crypto hacks reached a record high in the first half of 2026, with total losses surpassing $1 billion, according to blockchain security firm Blockaid. The surge marks the most damaging six-month period on record for the industry. Ethereum and Solana projects were the hardest hit, suffering losses of $332 million and $326 million, respectively, accounting for the majority of stolen funds across the period.
The findings underscore a persistent and escalating threat facing decentralized finance and broader crypto ecosystems. Despite increased investment in security infrastructure over recent years, attackers continue to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in smart contracts, bridges, and wallet interfaces. Blockaid, which specializes in on-chain threat detection, has been tracking malicious activity across major networks and noted a significant rise in the sophistication of attack vectors employed during this period.
The scale of losses carries meaningful implications for investor confidence and institutional adoption. Projects operating on Ethereum and Solana — both of which serve as foundational layers for thousands of decentralized applications — face heightened pressure to audit codebases and strengthen security protocols. Regulators in multiple jurisdictions may also point to these figures as justification for accelerating oversight frameworks targeting DeFi platforms and custodial services.
Looking ahead, the industry will be watching whether security spending and improved tooling can curb the pace of exploits in the second half of 2026, particularly as total value locked across major protocols continues to grow.
Source: The Block
