Cryptohacks in the first half of 2026: losses decreased to $972 million, but the number of attacks set a record
The first half of 2026 demonstrated paradoxical dynamics in the security of cryptocurrency projects. According to data from Immunefi's analytical division, total losses from hacker attacks amounted to approximately $972 million, marking the lowest figure in recent years. However, the number of incidents reached a record 207 cases. This indicates that while attackers are becoming more active, the average cost of each attack has significantly decreased.
The improvement is particularly noticeable in the DeFi sector. Compared to the peak year of 2022, when losses reached $2.62 billion, the damage has decreased by 74% — to $680.3 million. This positive trend is directly linked to the growing maturity of the ecosystem: the implementation of bug bounty programs, regular audits, and an increase in the number of qualified security specialists are yielding results.
The threat landscape has also undergone significant changes. Major risks have shifted from classic smart contract vulnerabilities to more complex infrastructure issues. The primary attack vectors are now private key compromises, errors in cross-chain configurations, and infrastructure failures. This indicates that while code is becoming more secure, the human factor and the complexity of cross-network interactions remain weak links.
My professional opinion: The reduction in losses per hack is certainly a positive signal, indicating increased industry resilience. However, the record number of attacks suggests that attackers are adapting and switching to less protected targets. The community needs to prioritize infrastructure-level protection and user education on security fundamentals, especially regarding private key storage.