Q2 2026 Crypto Hacks Reach Record Incident Count as Bridge Exploits Surge

The second quarter of 2026 has become the most active period for crypto hacks on record by incident count, with 83 separate exploits reported across decentralized finance platforms and blockchain protocols. Total losses reached more than $755 million, highlighting growing pressure on the industry’s security systems.

Despite the high number of attacks, total stolen funds remain below the record $3.56 billion lost during the fourth quarter of 2020. Analysts say lower total value locked across DeFi platforms may have reduced the amount hackers could steal.

Cross-Chain Bridge Exploits Lead Crypto Losses

Cross-chain bridge attacks emerged as the biggest threat during the quarter, accounting for roughly $351 million in losses. The largest incident involved the KelpDAO exploit, which caused nearly $293 million in damages after a LayerZero OFT bridge vulnerability was abused.

Other major attacks included Drift Protocol’s $280 million exploit and Taiko’s recent $1.7 million bridge compromise. Security researchers also warned that weak operational practices and rapid protocol development continue to expose crypto platforms to higher risks.