Skip to content

The Real Reason Behind Most DeFi Hacks

May 13, 2026 · 35 min

Show notes

Following a string of major DeFi exploits, we unpack what’s driving the recent rise in hacks across crypto.

a16z crypto GP Eddy Lazzarin and security engineer Matt Gleason join host Robert Hackett to take a closer look. Their argument: AI is not introducing entirely new vulnerabilities. It is making existing weaknesses easier to identify and exploit. The question is whether defenders can evolve as quickly as attackers.

They also cover:

- why “AI-powered hacking” is difficult to measure
- how geopolitical tensions may be influencing cyber activity
- why defenders should be aggressively stress-testing their own systems
- how AI could eventually outperform humans at resisting social engineering
- what users can do today to protect themselves online

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro
00:57 - The surge, explained
01:37 - Did attackers use AI
04:19 - How AI can help defend against attacks
09:16 - The doomsday marketing debate
17:17 - DeFi transparency: opportunities and challenges
21:00 - Social engineering and how to stay safe

Follow along here:
Eddy Lazzarin: https://twitter.com/eddylazzarin
Robert Hackett: https://twitter.com/rhackett
Matt Gleason: https://twitter.com/mg_486662

Follow a16z crypto:
X: https://twitter.com/a16zcrypto
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/a16zcrypto/posts/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@a16zcrypto

Subscribe for more industry reports, trend updates, news analysis, builder guides, and other resources: https://a16zcrypto.substack.com/subscribe/

As always, none of the following should be taken as investment, business, legal, or tax advice. Please see a16z.com/disclosures for more important information, including a link to a list of our investments.


Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All episodes of a16z Frontier show

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.