Taiko Hit by $1.7 Million Hack Amid June Crypto Attack Spree

Taiko loses about $1.7 million in an attack on its bridge mechanisms. The team is asking users to withdraw their funds while the investigation continues.

Key Takeaways

• Taiko lost about $1.7 million in a hack targeting its chain-state verification mechanisms.
• The attacker moved 1.99 million TAIKO to MEXC and still holds 870.8 ETH.
• Taiko is asking exchanges to block TAIKO deposits and advising users to withdraw funds from bridges.

Taiko, an Ethereum-compatible rollup, was recently hit by a hack that drained about $1.7 million. The attack targeted the chain-state verification mechanisms of the network, which means the bridge security assumption is no longer reliable. This incident adds to a growing list of more than twenty crypto attacks that took place in June 2026.

Impact of the Hack on Taiko and the Team's Response

The attacker has already converted part of the stolen tokens, including 1.99 million TAIKO worth about $189,000, which were moved to the exchange MEXC. In addition, the same wallet still holds 870.8 ETH, worth nearly $1.52 million. Taiko is working closely with its Security Council and ecosystem partners to contain the incident and is considering both technical and legal steps against the attacker.

The team has asked centralized exchanges to temporarily block TAIKO deposits until an official statement is released. Taiko is also strongly advising users to immediately withdraw their funds from any bridges running on the network. To support the investigation and tracking effort, four suspicious wallet addresses have been made public.

Broader Context of Bridge Security and Crypto Attacks in 2026

Bridges remain one of the weakest links in crypto, with major losses coming from exploits. In 2026 alone, more than twenty hacks have been recorded targeting these infrastructure weak spots. So far this year, losses from cross-chain bridge exploits have climbed to more than $328 million, with attackers going after verification systems, validator infrastructure, and smart contract vulnerabilities across DeFi protocols.

Taiko stands out as a decentralized Layer 2 scaling solution that uses a Zero Knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine (zkEVM) to deliver scalability without giving up security or compatibility. Even so, this hack shows that even advanced technology is not immune to security risks, especially when bridges are involved in moving transactions between networks.

Why This Matters for European Crypto Users

For European users and investors, this event highlights the ongoing risk bridges still pose in the crypto market, even with all the tech progress. It also shows why it is important to stay careful when using Layer 2 solutions and cross-chain services, especially at a time when the crypto industry is dealing with a higher number of security incidents. European regulators and market participants may watch these developments closely as they continue refining risk management and rules.