Crypto Thefts Fall to $49,300,000 in February 2026 as Attackers Exploit User Authorization: NOMINIS Report

On March 12, 2026, blockchain intelligence platform NOMINIS reported that crypto-related incidents led to about $49.3 million in losses in February, down sharply from roughly $385 million in January. Researchers say the drop does not mean the ecosystem is safer, as attackers are shifting from complex smart contract exploits to techniques that manipulate user behavior and transaction authorizations. A major Solana-based DeFi breach at Step Finance accounted for about $30 million, while multiple smaller cases involved phishing approvals, malicious signatures and address poisoning.