September's Security Nightmare
Real talk: the vibes in the crypto space were incredibly off this September. According to data from security firms PeckShield and CertiK, last month was officially the worst of 2026 for exploits and hacks, with total losses estimated between $766 million and $768 million.
To put that in perspective, the damage was a massive spike compared to August. CertiK tracked 97 different incidents throughout the month, while PeckShield identified 55 major breaches.
The Big Hits
The majority of these losses came from just two massive events: the $388 million Bitget hack and a $320 million hit on the Liquid Network. It’s not all pure Ls, though—reports indicate that over $270 million of the funds taken from the Liquid Network were later returned, which is a major win for the victims involved.
Beyond those two, the "degen" risk remained high across the board. Other projects including Safe Wallet, DCENT, and Duelbits also got hit, losing $7.8 million, $6 million, and $5.9 million respectively. CertiK noted that September served as a harsh reminder of how quickly the threat landscape can change for anyone holding assets on-chain.
The Yearly Toll
When you zoom out, the numbers are highkey concerning. CertiK’s dashboard shows that 2026 has already seen 656 security incidents, totaling a staggering $2.68 billion in lost funds.
Why it matters
This spike highlights that no protocol is immune to exploits. While some funds get returned, the constant threat of hacks means you need to be hyper-vigilant about where you keep your keys. Remember, this isn't financial advice—always DYOR and practice extreme caution with your digital assets.
