# ARK Invest Research Head Estimates 2026 Crypto Theft at $8.5B

By Simon Yoon

Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/technology/47991
Published: 2026-11-03T20:33:32.000Z
Updated: 2026-11-03T20:33:32.000Z
Section: Technology

> Lorenzo Valente put the tally through Oct. 30, 2026, at 0.33% of the year's average market capitalization, while the annual average since 2018 was 0.24%.

Lorenzo Valente, ARK Invest’s digital assets research head, put the value of crypto assets stolen in 2026 at about $8.5 billion through Oct. 30, equal to 0.33% of the year’s average market capitalization.

The new tally adds to Valente’s argument that hacking creates hidden costs for users. Since 2018, annual hacking losses have averaged 0.24% of crypto market capitalization, he said.

Valente compared that rate with fraud losses in the U.S. banking system, which he put at 1.7 basis points of deposits. He described the crypto rate as about 14 times higher.

The measures use different denominators: crypto losses are measured against market capitalization, while bank fraud losses are measured against deposits. The comparison therefore contrasts rates rather than like-for-like dollar totals.

Valente said theft may ultimately reach users through trading and asset-custody costs and weaken crypto networks’ competitiveness.