The crypto sector experienced 60 incidents in May for 68.3 million in losses

The crypto market does not suffer only from its volatility, red candlesticks, and brutal wake-ups. It also withstands technical attacks, colder, sharper, almost operated with a scalpel. In May, the blockchain still bled, but differently: less massive hemorrhaging, more repeated incisions into protocols.

Crypto: less carnage, but a wave of very targeted attacks

In May 2026, the crypto industry lost about 68.3 million dollars, according to CertiK. The figure remains significantly lower than the 547.3 million lost in April. Yet, the month offers no relief. CertiK lists 60 confirmed incidents, the highest monthly total of 2026.

The trend deserves attention. January counted 48 incidents, February 50, March 55, April 58, then May 60. Losses decline, but attacks multiply. The crypto sector thus suffers not only large isolated shocks. It goes through a series of more frequent, more technical, harder to neutralize strikes.

Phishing recedes sharply, with about 2.6 million dollars lost. It is its second-lowest level of the year. Now, hackers no longer only target the distracted user. They aim at the code, bridges, validators, and deep areas of DeFi.

Smart contracts and bridges: the open wounds of the market

Code vulnerabilities concentrate losses of 45.13 million dollars, nearly 66% of the monthly total. This data changes the diagnosis. The main problem no longer comes only from stolen passwords or fake links. It lies within the very architecture of protocols.

Bridges also remain highly exposed, with 28.62 million dollars in losses. Verus ranks first, with 11.52 million lost. Thorchain follows, with 10.12 million. Then come TrustedVolumes, Gravity Bridge, and other smaller but numerous incidents. The five largest attacks total nearly 40 million.

The good news remains limited. About 9.38 million dollars were recovered during the month. This represents nearly 13.7% of gross losses. The crypto market is thus progressing in repair, but the operation remains heavy. Every poorly sutured line of code can reopen the wound.

Key figures of the crypto operating room

• May totals 60 confirmed incidents in the blockchain industry;
• Crypto losses reach about 68.3 million dollars;
• Verus suffers the heaviest attack, with 11.52 million;
• Code flaws represent 66% of losses;
• Recovered funds reach approximately 9.38 million.

However, crypto crimes do not always remain in the shadows of protocols. In the United States, authorities have just indicted a Texan for a fraud estimated at 12.3 million dollars. The message becomes clear: hackers operate fast, but justice is also learning to close its grip.