Deepfake Scams Surpass All Other Crypto-Related Losses

Deepfake scams are on the rise in cryptocurrency, with reported losses from such attacks surging by 263% in 2026 compared to all of last year. This trend is highlighted by a new index from blockchain intelligence firm TRM Labs, which classifies deepfakes and other AI-powered scams as the only crypto-crime category where artificial intelligence has reached a 'Mature' level of adoption.

This shift in tactics exposes a weakness in traditional smart-contract security, as attackers increasingly manipulate authorized users rather than break blockchain code. Even with proper authentication and hardware wallet security in place, funds can still be stolen if an individual is convinced by a deepfake to approve the transaction.

The use of AI in scams has increased significantly, with TRM's index showing that reports involving scammer-side use of AI have risen roughly 13-fold since 2022. The firm's broader series covering all scam reports that mention AI has increased about 25-fold during this period, including cases where victims used consumer AI tools while investigating suspected fraud.