AI is shortening the shelf life of crypto security audits, researchers warn

Key takeaways

• 1AI is accelerating vulnerability discovery, making single security audits obsolete as hackers exploit codebases faster than protocols can patch them.
• 2Hackers stole $1.32 billion in H1 2026 and are targeting defunct DeFi protocols, including a $2.1 million exploit from closed Aztec Connect.
• 3AI agents discovered $4.6 million in exploitable smart contract vulnerabilities, with $72.3 billion locked across DeFi protocols as potential targets.

Coins in this story

Why it matters

Indian retail investors in DeFi protocols face heightened security risks as traditional audits become insufficient protection against AI-powered attacks. The shift toward continuous reauditing raises operational costs and emphasizes need for robust due diligence before exposure to any crypto protocol, especially legacy systems.