Crypto Theft Rose 55% to $1.18 Billion in Q3 2026, Hacken Reports
Blockchain security firm Hacken says crypto theft climbed to $1.18 billion in the third quarter of 2026. Here are on-chain checks buyers can run before purchasing a new token.
AfroEuropa Newsroom
AfroEuropa desk
Crypto theft increased 55% quarter-on-quarter to reach $1.18 billion during the third quarter of 2026, according to figures from blockchain security firm Hacken, as reported by BitKE. Most of these losses stemmed from exploited smart contracts and access-control failures at platforms.
BitKE noted that not every loss originates from a hack. When purchasing a newly launched token, some of the largest risks are embedded in the token itself. On Solana, these details can be reviewed using a block explorer such as Solscan or Solana Explorer.
BitKE outlined several checks buyers can run before acquiring a new token. The first is whether the token's supply can still expand: checking the mint authority field on the mint address shows whether an account can create additional tokens and dilute existing holders, or whether the supply is fixed if the field is empty.
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