Crypto projects lost more than $1 billion to hacks during the first half of 2026, with verified exploit incidents reaching a record high, according to a report published Tuesday by blockchain security firm Blockaid. The report identified H1 2026 as the most-hacked half-year on record by incident count, though dollar losses remained below the year-earlier total. Blockaid verified more exploit incidents in the first six months of 2026 than it recorded in all of 2025.
North Korea-Linked Hackers Account for $577 Million in H1 2026 Exploits
North Korea-linked hackers accounted for the largest share of funds stolen during H1 2026. Blockaid attributed both the $285 million Drift exploit and the $292 million KelpDAO exploit to DPRK-linked actors. The firm stated that the working pattern of LinkedIn social engineering leading to multisig signer compromise produced two of the four largest H1 incidents.
Immunefi reported in its June 2026 Ecosystem Update that cryptocurrency projects had lost approximately $972 million across 207 hack incidents during the first half of this year. Quill Audits found $935.3 million lost across 87 DeFi hacks in H1 2026. While Immunefi also identified the highest-ever six-month incident count this year, 2026 DeFi exploit losses so far have fallen 74% from their 2022 peak.
Ethereum and Solana Projects Lose $332 Million and $326 Million Respectively
Tracking losses by chain, Blockaid said on Tuesday Ethereum and Solana projects lost the most during the first half of 2026, losing $332 million and $326 million, respectively. According to the report, mega code exploits concentrate on Ethereum because the highest-value protocols, including restaking, stablecoins, and DEX aggregators, exist on that chain. Solana attackers target signer infrastructure rather than contract code, Blockaid said.
Blockaid Predicts Increase in AI-Related Exploits for H2 2026
The report predicts the number of artificial intelligence-related exploits will likely increase in the coming months. According to Blockaid, Bankr's $216,000 exploit was the first ever AI-related incident, and agent deployment is growing roughly ten times per year. The firm stated it expects multiple AI agent incidents in H2, with prompt injection leading and tool-use abuse and unauthorized signing to follow.
FAQ
What was the total amount lost to crypto hacks in H1 2026?
Crypto projects lost more than $1 billion to hacks during the first half of 2026, according to Blockaid's report published Tuesday.
Which blockchain networks experienced the highest losses in H1 2026?
Ethereum projects lost $332 million and Solana projects lost $326 million during the first half of 2026, representing the highest losses by chain according to Blockaid's tracking.
How much did North Korea-linked hackers steal in H1 2026?
Blockaid attributed $285 million from the Drift exploit and $292 million from the KelpDAO exploit to DPRK-linked actors, totaling $577 million in North Korea-linked thefts during H1 2026.
