Centralized Exchange and DeFi Losses Dominate 2026 Crypto Hacks Despite Hardware Wallet Failures

Lightning.news data shared with Bitcoin Magazine puts net 2026 crypto hack losses at roughly $2.35 billion after freezes and returns, with centralized exchanges and DeFi bearing the brunt despite hardware wallet failures also occurring. September alone accounted for about $768 million, led by Bitget's September 24 hot-and-warm wallet drain and a bug in Liquid Network's Elements. Traders should note the concentration of losses in custodial and DeFi venues, a reminder of counterparty and smart-contract risk even as self-custody hardware also showed flaws.