Q2 2026 emerges as most-hacked quarter on record with 83 incidents
Crypto hackers stole $755 million across 83 cybersecurity incidents, as cross–chain bridges remained the most costly attack vector of the crypto industry.
The second quarter of 2026 has become the most actively exploited period in crypto history, with hackers stealing $755 million across 83 separate cybersecurity incidents, according to new data. The figure represents a significant escalation in both the frequency and scale of attacks on digital asset infrastructure. Cross-chain bridges were identified as the single most costly attack vector during the period, continuing a pattern of exploitation that has plagued interoperability protocols for several years.
Cross-chain bridges, which allow users to transfer assets between different blockchain networks, have long been considered among the most vulnerable components of the crypto ecosystem. Their complexity and the large volumes of liquidity they hold make them attractive targets for sophisticated threat actors. Previous high-profile bridge exploits, including those affecting Ronin Network and Wormhole in earlier years, collectively resulted in losses exceeding $1 billion, establishing a troubling precedent.
The record-breaking quarter raises serious questions about the industry's preparedness and the adequacy of existing security auditing standards. The volume of incidents suggests that attackers are becoming more organized and technically capable, while the concentration of losses around bridge protocols indicates that fundamental architectural vulnerabilities remain unresolved across multiple projects.
Analysts and security researchers are expected to closely monitor whether the industry responds with meaningful protocol upgrades, enhanced audit requirements, or regulatory pressure around security disclosures in the months ahead.
Source: Cointelegraph
