Cryptocurrency, $1.3 Billion 'Evaporated' by Hacking in First Half... Is Ethereum's Trust Collapsing?

▲ Cryptocurrency crime, hacking, cyber attack/AI generated image

Cryptocurrency hacking damages exceeded $1.3 billion in the first half of the year. A warning has been issued that the increasing number of attacks and the scale of damages could shake investor confidence.

According to cryptocurrency media outlet Benzinga on July 8 (local time), blockchain security firm CertiK reported that $1,315,676,432 was lost in 344 blockchain incidents in the first half of 2026. The average damage per incident amounted to $3.8 million. The median damage also recorded $138,703.

The damage in April totaled $650.9 million from 61 incidents, making it the month with the largest losses this year. In the second quarter, $807.5 million was stolen in 194 incidents involving hacking, fraud, and vulnerability exploits. CertiK Senior Blockchain Investigator Natalie Newson stated, "It's highly likely that many people have lost faith in holding cryptocurrencies, but theft is not the only reason."

Newson pointed out that it is rare for victims to recover their assets once cryptocurrencies are stolen and successfully laundered through cross-chain bridges, mixers, and exchanges. While there have been cases where investigative agencies seized assets or exchanges froze funds, these are not numerous considering the total number of incidents and amount of damages. She stated, "When unprotected theft damages accumulate, it can instill fear in investors, except for the strongest cryptocurrency believers."

Ethereum (ETH) was identified as the most exposed blockchain, suffering 153 attacks this year. Most were due to code vulnerabilities and phishing attacks. BNB Smart Chain (BSC) followed with 107 incidents. Ethereum attacks increased from 64 in Q1 to 89 in Q2, and overall incidents also rose from 150 to 194 during the same period.

CertiK assessed that "the industry is structurally coping with a higher frequency of attacks." In particular, the rapid increase in large-scale damage incidents exceeding $1 million was identified as a key risk. CertiK stated that in just six months of the first half of 2026, large-scale incidents have accumulated to a level comparable to past annual figures, and that attack trends in the second half should be closely monitored.

[Article Key Summary]

-In the first half of 2026, $1,315,676,432 in cryptocurrency damages occurred across 344 blockchain incidents.

-Ethereum attacks increased from 64 in Q1 to 89 in Q2, and total incidents in Q2 also rose to 194.

-CertiK warned that the rapid increase in large-scale damage incidents exceeding $1 million could put pressure on cryptocurrency investor confidence.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*