In April 2026, a record number of hacks was recorded in the crypto industry — more than 20 incidents (DeFiLlama data). Total losses amounted to $651 million. This is the highest level since March 2022 (excluding Bybit). The largest hack was Kelp ($292 million).
This surge indicates not only an increase in hacker activity, but also systemic vulnerabilities in protocols — especially in new or insufficiently audited projects, where speed of deployment often outpaces security.
The concentration of nearly half of total losses in a single incident (Kelp) highlights the risks of centralization and reliance on individual smart contracts or single points of failure, which contradicts the core principles of decentralization.
