Crypto Cyberattacks Grow More Complex, AI Strengthens Security Systems
The complexity of cyber attacks against the crypto asset ecosystem continues to evolve alongside the rising value of digital assets. This situation is prompting the industry to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) to strengthen security systems and accelerate the detection of potential threats.
According to data from DeFiLlama, at least 127 security incidents caused losses of approximately 947 million USD between January and June 2026. This situation indicates that attack patterns against the blockchain ecosystem are becoming increasingly complex, necessitating a more adaptive security approach.
The complexity of these threats was evident in two hacking incidents in April 2026 involving Drift Protocol and KelpDAO, with total losses amounting to around 577 million USD. A report from TRM Labs noted that these two incidents accounted for approximately 76 per cent of the total value of crypto assets stolen up to April 2026. In addition to exploiting code vulnerabilities, perpetrators are also beginning to target blockchain infrastructure and utilise social engineering.
Indodax CEO William Sutanto stated that the development of AI presents opportunities for the crypto asset and blockchain industry to strengthen security systems more proactively.
“What is changing right now is not just the number of attacks occurring, but also their level of complexity. Cybercriminals are becoming more organised and are utilising various methods that are difficult to detect with conventional approaches. Therefore, security systems must also be able to adapt more quickly, and AI is one of the technologies that holds great potential to support these efforts,” said William.
According to William, unlike traditional audits which are conducted periodically, AI enables continuous smart contract analysis and risk monitoring, allowing various potential vulnerabilities to be identified more quickly before they escalate into larger incidents.
Several technology companies have already utilised AI to bolster blockchain security, including Coinbase’s developed Frosty and Anthropic’s Mythos. These technologies support internal audits, smart contract analysis, on-chain activity monitoring, and the identification of unusual transactions in real-time.
Nevertheless, William emphasised that AI is not the sole solution for maintaining digital asset security. He asserted that AI acts as a resource multiplier that accelerates technical detection. However, blockchain security remains an ecosystem requiring multi-layered protection.
“The foundation lies in regulated governance, independent audits, strict access management, increased user-level awareness—including KYC and security hygiene—as well as competent human resources capable of making the right decisions. Because no matter how advanced the technology, it still requires competence, integrity, and human judgement behind it,” said William.
William noted that the advantage of AI today lies not only in its ability to accelerate the analysis process but also in supporting continuous risk monitoring. This approach allows industry players to detect potential threats earlier while accelerating mitigation steps.
“In the future, the measure of blockchain security will no longer be determined solely by how often a system is audited, but also by how quickly that system can detect, analyse, and respond to evolving threats. This is where AI is beginning to play an increasingly important role as a supporter of more adaptive security systems,” said William.
William added that Indodax continues to strengthen security standards through the implementation of technology, governance, and user education. One such effort involves collaboration with Chainalysis to strengthen on-chain activity monitoring, risk management, and compliance systems to support the improvement of national crypto asset industry security standards.