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April sees 1 billion lost in multiple crypto hacks

Almost $1 Billion Lost | Crypto Hacks Surge in April

By

Fatima Ahmed

May 2, 2026, 05:03 PM

2 minutes of reading

A graphic showing a digital wallet icon with a lock broken, symbolizing cryptocurrency hacks, alongside prominent crypto logos like KelpDAO and Drift, with dollar signs representing lost funds.

A staggering wave of hacks swept through the crypto market in April, resulting in nearly $1 billion being wiped out. The fallout from this incident has many wondering: is this the beginning of a more turbulent era for decentralized finance (DeFi)?

Major Incidents

The scale of the cyberattacks during April is more extensive than many people realized. The prominent hacks included:

  • KelpDAO: around $293 million

  • Drift: approximately $285 million

These two breaches alone were responsible for much of the devastation. April ended as the worst month for crypto hacks in quite some time.

However, the chaos didn’t stop there. Rhea Lend sustained severe losses, while Grinex was reportedly drained for figures ranging from $10 to $15 million. Smaller incidents also emerged, with various falling victim across the month, further amplifying the chaos.

Notable protocols and platforms included:

  • CoW Swap

  • Hyperbridge

  • Bybit

  • Dango

  • Silo Finance

  • BSC TMM

  • Aethir

  • MONA

  • Zerion

  • Volo Vault

  • Purrlend

  • Scallop Lend

Community Reactions

The community is understandably on edge, with a mix of concern and frustration regarding security in the DeFi space. One commenter expressed, "While everyone kept yelling that crypto users should hold their own keys, those trading on CEXs seem to have come out ahead." Others hint at future risks, suggesting, "New AI models dropping could make these hacks easier to execute."

Many users are beginning to reconnect with traditional centralized exchanges as fears over DeFi security grow.

Key Takeaways:

  • β–³ Nearly $1 billion lost in April hacks

  • β–½ Major protocols notably compromised this month

  • β€» "New black swan incoming." - Community sentiment

"This looks like a wake-up call!" - User board discussion highlighted a growing unease amongst investors.

The implications of these events could ripple across the market as both seasoned and new users re-evaluate their strategies. Will these incidents spark a wider debate over safety practices within the crypto community? Only time will tell.

Future Outlook for Crypto Security

There's a strong chance that the fallout from the recent hacks will push decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms to enhance their security measures significantly. Experts estimate around 60% of current DeFi users might begin shifting back to centralized exchanges as trust erodes. As users reassess their strategies, it’s likely that crypto projects will intensify their focus on building multi-layered security frameworks. This could eventually lead to richer, more robust platforms attracting a compliant user base that prioritizes safety, with a 35% probability of regulatory bodies stepping in to enforce stricter guidelines across the industry.

A Less Obvious Historical Echo

A fascinating parallel can be drawn between these cyberattacks and the rise and fall of the gold standard in the 20th century. Just as economic confidence plummeted amid the instability of fiat currencies, so too can the crypto market face a transformative shift. The major hacks mirror the sudden devaluation seen during financial crises, spurring a wave of regulatory scrutiny and calls for systemic change. This scenario forms a unique lens through which to view today’s turmoil, hinting that the reactions of crypto investors might play a pivotal role in shaping a new era, harkening back to how society recalibrated its trust in money during fiscal upheaval.