Crypto Hacking Losses Near US$1 Billion in H1 2026, AI Touted as Security Solution

The value of crypto assets lost to hacking in the first half of 2026 has nearly touched US$1 billion. According to data from DeFiLlama, at least 127 security incidents were recorded, resulting in losses of approximately US$947 million (around Rp17 trillion) during the period from January to June 2026. This condition indicates that attack patterns in the blockchain ecosystem are becoming increasingly complex. Digital security systems are now considered to require a fundamental update to face evolving threats. The complexity of cyber threats was reflected in two major incidents in April 2026 that hit Drift Protocol and KelpDAO. Total losses from the two protocols reached US$577 million. A TRM Labs report noted that these two incidents accounted for about 76% of the total value of crypto assets stolen up to April 2026. Perpetrators are no longer just exploiting code bugs, but are starting to target blockchain infrastructure and exploit human carelessness through social engineering operations. Facing this trend, artificial intelligence (AI) technology is beginning to be integrated as a new security solution. Unlike traditional audits which are periodic, AI enables continuous smart contract analysis and risk monitoring. Indodax CEO William Sutanto stated that the development of AI opens opportunities for the crypto industry to strengthen security systems proactively. ‘What is changing now is not just the number of attacks, but also the level of complexity. Cyber criminals are increasingly organised and utilise methods that are difficult to detect with conventional approaches. Therefore, security systems must be adaptive, and AI has great potential to support these efforts,’ said William. Some AI implementations that have begun to be applied by global technology companies include real-time threat detection and automated vulnerability scanning. Although very helpful, William stressed that AI is not a single solution. Blockchain security still requires layered protection involving regulated governance, independent audits, strict access management, and the like. ‘AI acts as a resource multiplier for technical detection. However, no matter how sophisticated the technology, it still requires competence, integrity, and human judgement behind it,’ he added. According to him, the measure of future security is no longer solely determined by the frequency of audits, but by how quickly the system can respond to adaptive threats. As a licensed crypto exchange in Indonesia, Indodax is strengthening national security standards. One strategic step taken is establishing cooperation with Chainalysis to strengthen on-chain activity monitoring, risk management, and compliance systems to protect all users.