DeFi Protocols Suffer Over $840 Million in Hacks in Early 2026

DeFi protocols have experienced significant financial losses due to hacks, totaling more than $840 million in the first five months of 2026. According to NS3.AI, April was particularly devastating, with losses exceeding $600 million. Notable incidents include the $292 million exploit of KelpDAO and the $285 million breach of Drift Protocol. In May, THORChain suspended trading after researchers identified a potential exploit impacting over $10 million. Experts from TRM Labs, CertiK, and Blockaid have highlighted that recurring bridge and admin-control failures, along with AI-assisted reconnaissance, are contributing to the increased pressure of exploits.