Data analysis for the first half of 2026 reveals a significant trend: total losses of crypto projects from hacks amounted to approximately $972 million, distributed across 207 incidents. This is the lowest figure since 2022, when damages were measured in billions. Notably, the number of attacks reached a record high, but the average damage per incident has significantly decreased—a key indicator of the maturing security industry.
DeFi Sector: Losses Drop by 74%
Particularly impressive dynamics are observed in the decentralized finance (DeFi) segment. Losses here fell by 74% from the 2022 peak—from $2.62 billion to $680.3 million. This is a direct result of systemic improvements in protective mechanisms: widespread adoption of bug bounty programs, regular code audits, and a significant increase in the pool of qualified security specialists.
Shift in Threat Paradigm
The risk structure has undergone fundamental changes. While previously the main attack points were smart contract vulnerabilities, the focus has now shifted toward infrastructure failures, private key compromises, and errors in cross-chain configurations. This indicates that hackers are adapting to new realities, and projects need to prioritize protecting operational infrastructure, not just code.
Expert Comment: The reduction of losses below $1 billion is certainly a positive signal for the market. However, the record number of hacks reminds us that cybercriminals are not giving up. The industry must be prepared for the next wave of threat evolution, especially in the areas of cross-chain interactions and key management. Without this, progress may prove temporary.