Security Earthquake on Ethereum and Solana Networks: Record Loss of $1.1 Billion

As the cryptocurrency world was shaken by security breaches in the first half of 2026, total losses reached a record level, exceeding $1.1 billion.

The latest report published by the on-chain security platform Blockaid reveals the extent of security vulnerabilities in the digital asset ecosystem. The 212 distinct incidents recorded in the first six months of 2026 represent the highest number of cases ever seen in a single half-year period. Reaching a total of $1.1 billion, these losses demonstrate that both the frequency and the impact of the threats facing the industry are increasing.

According to the report, projects on Ethereum and Solana—the two giants of the ecosystem—were at the center of the attacks. While Ethereum-based projects lost approximately $332 million, losses in the Solana ecosystem reached $326 million. The largest single attack of the period occurred in the KelpDAO protocol, totaling $292 million. Security experts state that a large portion of these attacks were carried out by North Korea-linked hacker groups.

Differing Threats in Ethereum and Solana Security

When examining the causes of losses across the two major networks, a striking difference emerges. While losses on the Ethereum side were mainly caused by code vulnerabilities in smart contracts, the situation on the Solana front is of a much different nature. More than 98 percent of the losses on the Solana network resulted directly from key and signature infrastructure leaks. Projects such as Drift Protocol and Step Finance, in particular, suffered significant damage due to these infrastructure vulnerabilities.

Blockaid data shows that the average loss per incident was $5.4 million. As security breaches reach record highs, it serves as a reminder that both investors and developers must be far more cautious regarding software security and private key management for wallet access.